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Sarah L. - 5.0 out of 5 stars -  Great foray into the world of fiction.

As someone who is as close to a non-fiction purist as one can be (with the exception of the classics), picking up this book was certainly a digression from my typical literary ventures. I typically read 2-3 books per week and have no qualms about abandoning a work that has not proven to be engaging. I was not quite sure what to expect from a piece of fiction written by a first-time author, but approached it with an open mind.

In terms of structure, it makes for a quick read. The chapters and sub-chapters keep things interesting and break up the reading frequently, preventing wandering thoughts or staleness. The book is not written in a straightforward chronological manner, diverting the reader to different timelines as the characters are developed. This style certainly lends itself to an element of suspense with no shortage of foreshadowing and character development.

While far from formulaic, the plot is not entirely unpredictable. The reader realizes the purpose of the novel is not to focus on the action or creating an unprecedented story line, but rather to focus on developing the characters and align their stories. The reader is greeted with an abundance of colorful detail, idiosyncratic characters, and thoughtful prose. For someone who truly enjoys exploring action packed scenes in lavish detail, the reader may find themselves wanting another 50 pages of just that; however, for those that are are more inclined to make intimate connections with the protagonists, villains, and supporting characters, this book provides those connections in spades.

As a first novel for the author, the book is far from perfectly polished, but it is an enjoyable read. The reader will embrace the gamut of human emotion, finding at least one character they identify with and others they will feel like they have known their entire lives.

If you are a fiction fan, support a new author and give this one a try.