Sunday, April 7, 2013

Innovera Yakov: Journey of a Thousand Eyes: Review & Excerpt


Author: Kia Garriques
Title: Innovera Yakov: The Journey of a Thousand Eyes
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Kia Garriques

Synopsis:


Innovera Yakov is a beautiful world of crystals that turns under five moons and two brilliant suns that never set. Flitters take care of domestic chores while Starbirds and Starflies soar through the never-ending sunlight of this crystalline world. The Circle of Knowing decides their fate; the forbidden forests of the Dimmer Zone swallow trespassers. And at the very edges of Innovera Yakovthere is the terrifying watery darkness of Verheer.

We meet Ayana, the healer and lonely outcast with her scarred face; Vinton, her protector (or is he her imaginary friend?); Gamma and Blu Tara, the beautiful, fiery twins who can kill with one look. These twins are important characters in the book. They could hardly be more different from each other. Krave, beloved by Gamma, hated by Blu Tara, ‘tall and upright as a polished spear with a beautiful crop of golden hair that cascaded down his back in waves’; his ‘brother’ Skylar, pure trouble with ‘muscles on his arms and legs that stood out in lumps’; Ryder with his crystal spear, forever seeking Ayana’s approval although she, refusing to believe she's worth it, can only wonder, ‘What does he see in me?’ And Ice, mysterious, dangerous, murderous with eyes like bright furnaces who feeds on Innoverans. These young Innoverans are often haunted by a forgotten past recalled only in strange dreams. They form friendships, make enemies and face constant physical and emotional challenges that test them to their limits. They have amazing powers; they can fly, they can communicate through 'thought-words', their minds can travel to other worlds. They harbour secrets.
But life is not easy on Innovera Yakov and the young Beings must live in constant fear of Blu Tara; ‘What I want, I have. What I can’t have, I destroy.’ They find that the great powers they are gifted with are nothing compared to the dangers they face. They must shelter from Solar-storms. To fall in love is dangerous. Lovers long to combine to become stronger, better Beings but it can go terribly wrong and when that happens they perish. Their survival is further threatened by Ice, who consumes Innoverans and holds both Blu Tara and Ayana in his control.
They are told that they must embark on 'The Journey', this journey will be more terrifying than any of them could imagine and a strong leader must be elected from their midst. They are shocked to discover who that leader is, none more so than the chosen one herself. Many of them will perish as they make their way through the watery darkness of Verheer while battling the army of underworld warriors bent on destroying and consuming them.


So where do I begin?

I kind of have mixed feelings about Innovera Yakov. At first I didn't like it, but now I realize that it is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. Let's start with the main character, Ayana. I think Ayana' s characters was developed extremely well. In the land of Innovera Yakov, she is sort of an oustsider. She is the only person with imperfections such as scars on her face and human like emotions. Though she is a healer and has the power to, well, heal, that doesn't gain her any favor with her peers. She has a crush on someone who isn't interested and can't appreciate the guy that is. Though out the story, the reader can watch Ayana develop her self worth and understanding of herself.

Innovera Yakov is one of the most interesting fantasy lands I have ever read about. It is extremely complex and developed, which was confusing at first, but gradually I was able to understand it. The way the author described it made me want to go there and be apart of it. The descriptions were almost the best I have seen in a book, and it wasn't done in a frank way. Gradually, your mind starts to visualize the beauty of Innovera Yakov.

The plot is kind of interesting. Just when you think it's not going anywhere, it does. I don't want to give anything away, but the twist at the end is a cliffhanger that forces your mind into wanting to read the next book.

One thing I didn't like was how things never seemed to work out for Ayana. Gradually she discovers how important she is to society, but as far as finding a mate, friends, or fitting in, just when things seemed to be going good for her, they didn't. I hope in the next book, she finds someone that she loves and loves her back, just like the other peers.

Overall, I really liked this book. The character's were extremely well formed, and the last fifty pages are intense and gripping. I chose to keep this book on my shelves, and I give it a seven and a half out of ten. I think all readers who enjoy fantasy or are looking to start reading fantasy will enjoy the breathtaking novel. Looking back at the beginning of the book, it's interesting to see how far the author has taken us from the first setting to ending. You will fall in love with Innovera Yakov and it's inhabitants, too.



Buy Innovera Yakov on Amazon as a Paperpack
Buy Innovera Yakov on Amazon Kindle

Kia Garriques studied writing and English literature at University and has been a published short story writer since 2009. Her first story “The Invisible Alien Watcher” was published by Micro Horror in 2009 and reprinted by Pill Hill Press in 2011. Innovera Yakov: The Journey of a Thousand Eyes – is her first novel in the ‘Worlds’ series and will be out on amazon mid February. visit www.kiagarriques.com/books to read the first chapter

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