Steven Morris

I received a free copy through Story Origin in exchange for an honest review.

The prologue is well written and engaging. Initial world building lays the roots (foundation) for the series. New terms are introduced (Rooted, Roamers, Limited, Fathers of Stone) but enough is elucidated to draw readers in. I want to know more: who is the "I" of the prologue? (Answer: the Mother of Trees, but she only appears as an on-stage character in the beginning and end of the novel).

The remainder of the book is equally enjoyable. There are several additional first person narrators, but each has a unique voice and personality, several of which are different what one might have expected due to their species. Elliah is an adolescent of mixed parentage: half Wood Elf and half High Elf. She's 80 years old, but since elves are not considered adults until they turn 100, she still attends school and lives with her mother, Illiara. Elliah is one of the few elves who cannot use magic, and she and her mother have to move whenever her condition attracts too much attention. When they prepare to leave town at the beginning of the novel, a Warder named Beldroth arrives in town. He and his son Hughelas (half Warder and half Salt) are on a pilgrimage to visit the Mother of the Trees and ask her blessing. The four leave town together.

Zoras appears as a first-person narrator early in the novel. His scenes from the past provide additional information, filling in gaps in the main protagonist's knowledge. But elves live long lives. Zoras' story starts 930 years in the past but drops to 700, 500, 180, 81, until the past and present meet. Once his storyline connects with Ellias's, he is no longer a protagonist. While his actions seemed justified when viewed from his own perspective, Illiara sees him as the antagonist.

The third first-person narrator is Jenat, the First of the Last. She appears in only two chapters, near the beginning and end of the novel. She is a dragon, and her perspective sheds light on the world before the Breaking.

Despite clearly being a fantasy novel, I enjoyed many subtle references to the science and religion of our own world. For example, the Mother of Trees is careful about looking into the future because "the act of observing could affect the outcome." As a physicist, I recognize this as the observer effect from quantum mechanics. As another example, when Beldroth and Zoras discuss the legends of the Mother of Trees and the Father of Stones, they engage in what amounts to biblical criticism applied to their fictional, sacred texts. "Some believe [those two creators] are the Father of Stones and Mother of Trees in their original forms." "What if she [the goddess] created us to be like her, but when she left, we didn't follow...What if the Mother came back to save us after we were too afraid to be what she meant us to be?"

The afterward suggests that this is the first novel in a prequel series, but I have not read the series for which it is a prequel.… (altro)

‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ is a collection of twelve short poetries, where the author expresses his pessimistic frustrated overview towards life and people. However, at the end the author reveals that he finds solace in his one-sided love, mother’s feelings and close proximity to nature. This makes us think, what is happiness? Is it the mundane things? Certainly not. Is it the way life treats us or the feedback we receive from others? Maybe not. It is a state of mind, a feeling, which is not dependent on anything, which no one can take away from us. I think that is the message the author wants to convey.… (altro)

Thank you to PublishNation for the review copy of The Pursuit of Happiness. The following is my voluntary and honest review.

This short book of poetry focused on a dozen topics that documented the author's search to be seen and loved in a world that is not always very kind. Filled with questions, reasoning, and hope in the desire to understand his place in it all, The Pursuit of Happiness was a somber read at times but was also followed by bursts of fresh air after the rain. For me, I loved how he dedicated his words to all those who feel disconnected in their lives by letting the "kindred spirits" in this respect know that they are not alone.

A collection written from a wounded but optimistic heart, I felt the poet's words opened the door for reflection and perhaps even change.… (altro)

The Pursuit of Happiness is a poetry book written by a poet who feels that he does not fit in and that he is unloved. A sad poem, it is about longing and ends with a recognition of nature’s beauty and honest acceptance of those who immerse themselves in it. In nature you find honesty; either you’re a potential threat, you’re the prey, or you’re part of the scenery.

The book was a quick, less than an hour, read that represented a departure from my normal reading preference, but it resulted in reflection. Any book that causes me to think about life is a good book. The Pursuit of Happiness is one such book.… (altro)