From the Bookshelf of Q&A with R.T. Kaelin…

Progeny (The Children of the White Lions, #1)

R.T. Kaelin

Start date: December 2, 2010

Why we're reading this: R.T. Kaelin's debut novel.…more
[close] R.T. Kaelin's debut novel.

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Dec 06, 2010 Uriah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, epic

I first heard about this book when it was listed as a first reads giveaway. As an avid devourer of fantasy books I signed up to win and didn't think much of it beyond that. I was surprised when the author contacted me a few days later and invited me to join a sub forumn about the group where we could ask questions and discuss the book. I could tell that this was an autor who was passionate about his story and wanted it to succeed. This piqued my curiosity and I went and read the intro to the sto I first heard about this book when it was listed as a first reads giveaway. As an avid devourer of fantasy books I signed up to win and didn't think much of it beyond that. I was surprised when the author contacted me a few days later and invited me to join a sub forumn about the group where we could ask questions and discuss the book. I could tell that this was an autor who was passionate about his story and wanted it to succeed. This piqued my curiosity and I went and read the intro to the story. I could tell then that he author had good reason to be enthusiastic, this was not your run of the mill fantasy. I crossed my fingers to win a first reads copy but knew that if I didn't, I would purchase one on my own, which I ended up doing.

The world presented in Progeny is an evocative mix of the normal and the supernatural. I found myself easily slipping into the world and capable of seeing it as they did. The settings are imaginative yet grounded in the possible. The people of this world are "people" instead of falling into racial stereotypes. The characters are visibly but not fatally flawed(in a good way), giving them depth and evoking emotion. All this combines to present a recognizable world in an extraordinary setting.

A couple of the things I like most in the book are the magic system and the sense of history. The magic is understandable but also invisible. You see people using it but your imagination must fill in the details. While parts of the language may remind of other books, the use is obviously original. The history and interplay between nationalities and nations is also rich and well executed. Part of me can't decide wether I would rather see the next book or a prequel. The sense of history is not only apparent in exposition but also in the settings and interplay.

The book is well written. The first couple of chapters are the roughest but then it falls into an easy rythem. It was a pleasure to read. I won't give any spoilers here but he plot does twist at times. The development of the characters is obvious and real as are their relationships.

I hope we do not need to wait long to see another installment in this series. ...more

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