The Legend of Heliodor: The Crystal Spirits by Clive Culverhouse
Published 11/7/2015
Ages 10+
We were torn when deciding how to review the book. On one hand, there was considerable originality and effort on the part of the author to put forth a fantastic tale. On the other hand, there were numerous formatting errors and missed opportunities to make the story so much greater. With that out of the way, let us get started.
“A legend awakens When ancient legend and folklore catches up with the people of Heliodor after a thousand years of rest, a teenage boy finds it is him the people look to. Kyan has an incredible secret and he must use its power to save his people. The bad things had already started to happen. The world he lived in and the people he knew were already living on borrowed time… and that time had run out. An exciting and magical fantasy adventure for older children, teens and beyond.” – From Amazon.com
Story:
– Very Good
This is where Mister Culverhouse truly shines. Without giving anything away, Mister Culverhouse has created a story and world full of wonder and originality, without feeling too much like a derivative of the great fantasies that came before.
He uses his plethora of original ideas to build his world and create something that is truly unique. His love of gems and stones shines brightly in many details of the story, and he uses this knowledge in a way that enhances the story and lends credence to his world.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy of the story is that there are so many great ideas that a few feel like they could be fleshed out further. We are confident we will see this in Mister Culverhouse’s future works.
“Heliodor watched as the mighty Eltanin disappeared graciously into the mist and beyond the wild, sweeping mountains. He wondered if he would ever encounter the great beast again.”
Style and Formatting:
– Bearable
While Mister Culverhouse has concocted a great tale, many facets could have been enhanced by a smoother flow in his writing style. Some words feel ill-chosen, and the dialogue can feel a little forced. As well, the formatting of the e-book was a little off, with extra lines and indentations interspersed throughout the book.
Also, the capitalization is off. Once again, this could easily be fixed, and with luck, it will be updated in a later edition.
“The Elders sat at the tables so each one could be in full view of each other. It was very intimidating to see the town Elders arranged like this and suddenly the seriousness of the situation hit Kyan as he tried to remain calm and stand without fidgeting in front of the Council.”
Literary Value:
– Average
As a work of art, The Legend of Heliodor: The Crystal Spirits does not stand out in any way particular. It features themes common to the YA genre, but not much else, and does not explore these ideas too deeply. Perhaps that could be seen as another negative, but in fact, many great stories are just that, stories. These kinds of books are meant purely to entertain, and there is nothing wrong with that.
“Again this card was added to the others he had picked. After looking long and hard at the card for a moment or two, his manner changed and he was clearly upset from whatever the mysterious image was telling him.”
Overall Score: – 3.75, A Good Read
Without a doubt, The Legend of Heliodor: The Crystal Spirits is a great book for any young reader looking for something readable and enjoyable. It stands out in the genre for its originality and colorful characters but falters on occasion in its use of awkward language and improper formatting.
Available now on Amazon.com
Want more from Clive Culverhouse? Check out his blog here.
Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
I’ve seen this cover in various places and now I’m intrigued about it. I’ll have to put it on my TBR list – reblogging on Archer’s Aim.