Jumping into a series mid-stream carries a risk, and in Asherwick Gen Heirs, The Guardians of Sziveria, by Sarah Westill, I regret the risk taken. The ideal of a jumping off point to a rewarding reading experience failed to pan out.
Jonathon Hunter is the alpha male in a dystopian world. He previously had a “fake” relationship with Sylphine, who is the daughter of a privileged family in a distant country who seeks safety in a foreign country home to Jonathon. She also has an inherited ability to experience another’s emotions with a touch, i.e., a sympath.
While the plot dynamics are generic, nothing elevates it higher than commonplace. This accounts for the general lack of suspense. Sylphine’s magical power is ripe to be mined for suspense, but isn’t. Her “magical” power to experience another’s emotions never creates suspense, since she spends an inordinate amount of time in avoiding the physical touch needed to activate her ability.
There are moments when a reader may cringe. Example, chapter five, when a piece of paper is said to flap in Sylphine’s field of vision, but is then said to be stuck to her face. Stuck implies it can’t flap. Other inconsistent explanations drag out a simple happenstance that carries little significance in either plot or character development. Then there is the application of Sylphine’s ointment to Jonathon’s open wound after the removal of a “splinter.” Bad medical advice. This treatment has no demonstrated real healing ability. If it was proper or standard practice in a dystopian world, there’s no such explanation or justification given.
When Jonathon’s sister says he previously almost died, there’s an interest. The interest vanishes when the reader is told it happened six years previous. Remember, Sylphine had known him before as his “promised,” i.e., potential marriage partner. It strains credulity to believe that his prior brush with death is unknown to Sylphine. And, it doesn’t really figure into understanding the pitfalls of a potential partner’s job when one already knows it might be dangerous. (Note: go back to the open wound, which was received in an encounter with catching thieves.)
If a reader enjoys extended description of physical reactions between individuals to understand what is going on within their psyche, you’ll find multiple good examples. The flip side is that it slows the pace.
As an author with twelve novels on Amazon.com, including a First Place romance and a Gold Award fantasy, I well appreciate the challenge of writing within the restrictions of these genres. I return to my first impression. Jumping into a series mid-stream may not be a wise choice.
I received an advance Book Sirens review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
