John Lawson Reviews

Page Two

Added March 23, 2009

Sorrow

A Witch Ember Tale

Author: John Lawson
Publisher: Drollerie Press
Available At: http://drolleriepress.com/
Publishing Date: March 2009
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $6.95
Author Email/Website: http://witchember.com/novel/
Reviewer: Kathy Martin
Rating: 8 Gargoyles

Vestiga Gaesi is a province where the most privileged of royal society lives. But their privilege cannot protect them from the vicious assassin that has come to their land. Nor can it keep out the politics and power struggle within their religion.

The mystery begins with the murder of Archbishop Tuggub. The killing took place in the palace of Vestiga Gaesi's ruler, Viscount Palus. The Archbishop is only one in a chain of church killings, so the church has sent Count Hashi to find the killer and dispose of him. The assassin he is searching for is called Sorrow. Sorrow kills not only his target, but also any innocent bystander that he comes across.

Within all this intrigue is a 14-year old girl named Faina. She is the distant cousin of the Viscount and has come to live in Vestiga Gaesi until her father can get his accounts in order. Faina is a natural dancer and does not care for how those in the court treat her. Instead, she spends a lot of time at the tavern owned by her protector, Sir Taur. With the villagers she felt safe and loved. She did not realize that she had walked into the middle of a church power-struggle. A struggle that would soon take over her life.

Author John Lawson, has created a dark fantasy/mystery story that takes us deep into the world of court intrigues and fanatical religious beliefs. Magic is masterfully interweaved into this struggle. The characters, presentation, dialogue…all are superbly done. The tension is enhanced by an underlying feeling that there is something else going on, but just can't put your finger on it.

It may be true that I was able to figure out who the assassin was about two-thirds of the way through, but this did not deter me from hungrily finishing up the book. If you have ever read any of the "<>Witch Ember" books, you need to pick this one up too!

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This page was last updated on March 23, 2009

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