Review and Giveaway: Lichgates by S.M. Boyce
3December 10, 2014 by mmileti
About the Book:
Lichgates (Grimoire Saga #1)
I have not read a pure epic fantasy in quite a while now, but after picking up Lichgates I remembered what I love so much about the genre. In the first few pages of the novel Boyce shows us a typical “portal to another world” fantasy, but the story quickly changes when the protagonist, Kara, walks through a portal to the world of Ourea. Boyce’s world building is both detailed and imaginative, with every scene providing a new backdrop for magic, an abundance of unique creatures, and a chance for adventure. Though many of the themes and plot structures Boyce uses are common or cliched, her boundless imagination ensures that the heart of the story (the setting and characters) is quite distinctive. It is not everyday that you come across an author like Boyce who is able to express her creativity in her writing, to construct a world that is both foreign and fascinating, and is able to completely immerse the reader in the story through her own inventiveness.
Though I absolutely loved the imaginative world building, I found one of the best aspects of this novel to be the character development, and the dialogue between the two POV characters. Kara is a complex character, but it is actually the secondary POV character Braedan who is the most intricately crafted character in the story. Kara is often pulled along through the plot without much choice (though she does grow a lot by the end of the book), but Braedan’s motives are suspect from the very beginning, and it is his considerable strength of character, ambiguous though it might be, that stands out to the reader. The dialogue between the two protagonists is also incredibly engaging, and manages to bring the reader closer to both the characters and the story in general.
Lichgates is an extremely fast paced novel that will trap the reader’s attention from the very first chapter and hold it throughout the entire story. The book’s ending is especially exciting, and left me wanting to read the rest of the Grimoire Saga as soon as possible. Though the novel’s structure is built on commonplace genre tropes, the details of the story are extremely imaginative and adventurous. Lichgates is a pure adventure story, so if you are looking for a novel with intricate politics, a vast cast of POV characters, or a slower paced story built slowly on nuance, I advise you look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for high fantasy that is purely fun and adventurous; a story filled with magic and monsters, then I would highly recommend this novel.
My Rating: 7.5/10
I received a copy of this novel from CBB Book Promotions and the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
When I graduated with a degree in creative writing, I realized that made me well qualified for serving French fries. It would take years of writing hundreds of thousands of words of all kinds before I became the action and adventure bestselling author that I am today.I specialize in action-packed stories that weave in fantasy, mystery, and heroines with a knack for mischief. All romantic leads are based loosely on my husband, who proved that soul mates are real. I have a deep love for ghosts, magic, and spooky things. If you’ve already finished my books, check out my blog or twitter feed for a dash of adventure.
Ends December 17th
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Thank you so much for hosting a tour stop and sharing your thoughts!
The cover of the book is really gorgeous 😀
Though I’m not much of a fantasy reader, you did a splendid job of reviewing this book. It makes me want to read it. 🙂