Getting back into reviewing indie books has been a great experience. I had left, originally, to do a revamp of my site and encompass not just reviews, but rather merge my author page with my indie reviews. I’m still very much learning about web design, and the site will be undergoing face lifts periodically, though the content will remain relatively unchanged.
Author Davaun Sanders reached out to me to review The Seedbearing Prince: Part I after finding me on Goodreads. It wasn’t long after beginning the story that I knew this author was someone to watch. The book transported me to a newly conceptualized world that I could not compare to anything I had read before. It was full of fantastic characters, a young protagonist whose simple life has kept him sheltered from the truth of the world around him, and a set of despicable villans that strike fear into the hearts of all. I had given part I a solid 9/10, and was a little worried going into this one that Sanders would have trouble following up such a solid piece of work.
For those that have not read my first review I feel that a little background on Davaun Sanders is warranted.
“Davaun Sanders was an architect with a small design firm that fell victim to the 2008 housing market collapse. Instead of seeking out another firm immediately, he did what many of us wish we would have and began writing full-time. Sanders also writes poems and even performs spoken word poetry. This combination of an architects eye and poets soul turned into a debut novel that showcases both those attributes.” - Zach Tyo via indiebookreviewer.blogspot.com
The story picks up where part I left off. Dayn has been carried off by the fleshweep while Nassir and Lurec battle the prevailers of Montollos and attempt to escape the world with the seed.
We discover, from the prologue, that Dayn has been freed of the fleshweep by the Thar’Kuri. Quickly escaping the clutches of the monstrous beings, Dayn finds himself wandering through caverns full of the deplorable Thar’Kuri, a band of human raiders, and a band of nomads who may be his only hope of survival.
Meanwhile, Nassir and Lurec manage to escape Montollos thanks to a navigator from the ring. After discussing their options, the duo decide to complete the quest tasked to Dayn. As they pass through the torrent Lurec begins to discover the seed displays a special property as it furthers its distance from Dayn, giving the group hope the seedbearer may still yet be alive. That realization set them on a course directly into the heart of the torrent, and a set of worlds lost to the darkness.
Deception from the Ring, a lost seedbearer and a sinister plot being hatched by the leader of the voidwalkers keep you perched fully on the edge of your seat as you learn the origin of the World Belt and of the vile Thar’Kuri’s role in the breach and the very destruction of the worlds themselves.
As I mentioned in my first review, Sanders experience in architecture comes out whenever he describes a setting. Whether its discovering a visually stunning new world, or learning something new about a familiar place, you have no trouble picturing these fabulous and amazing worlds. Particularly, in the case of this story, the description of the world of the voidwalkers is a personal favorite of mine.
Sanders’ poetic past also continues to show itself in the second installment of The Seedbearing Prince. Its apparent in the choice of words, but in particular the character’s interactions and inner monologues. Each character reveals their inner selves during each dialogue, bringing you closer to them with each page turn.
If you followed my other review site you know I like to break down the story into the pros and cons of reading. I’ve decided to ex that portion and replace it with a similar, yet less suggestive, portion of ‘Things I liked’ and ‘Things I didn’t’. In reality it is still going to be the same thing, in revamping my reviews I realized calling something a con of reading is more of a turn off for a reader than I feel it should be.
What I liked:
- The pace with which the story moves along is perfection. Each page turn neither rushes the story, nor does it slow to a turtles pace.
- The character’s growth throughout the two parts has been tremendous. When first met the characters seemed set in their ways, but traveling together has furthered the life Sanders created for them, as well as furthered the reader’s connection with them.
- It was apparent from the first, and if you’ve only read this review so far I’m sure you caught on, that Sanders eye for architecture assisted his ‘world building’, yet somehow he manages to pack more new and exciting worlds into this story that is already filled to the brim with exciting, unique and stunning worlds.
Overall I’m going to give The Seedbearing Prince: Part II a very solid 9/10 based on:
10/10 for readability: Sanders story flows even better than its predecessor with a flow that can only come from an experienced writer.
9/10 for story: The story fits perfectly as a sequel to the first. The action packed, edge of your seat, will Dayn and the belt survive story is both unique and familiar at the same time.
9/10 for characters: I’m assuming that the bulk of you reading have read the first story, or at least my review and know I feel in love with Sanders’ characters from the first. This 9/10 is based on the character growth and development which is incredibly important in keeping characters from growing stale.
10/10 for visualization: This is based on both the new worlds and the expansion on some existing settings. Sanders has proven to me that he belongs in this genre that requires the up most attention to detail, and an ability to transfer the visuals in your head into a manuscript that effectively creates that visual in your readers head.
Thank you to author Davaun Sanders for allowing me to review the second part of this series. I was a fan after the first, but this has confirmed, for me, that Sanders is going on my shelves with some of my favorites.
If you would like to pick up a copy of The Seedbearing Prince: Part II click here.
If you are unsure you can pick up a free copy of The Seedbearing Prince: Part I here.
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