Fantasia Reviews Darrienia

Darrienia by K. J. Simmill

Published 9/1/2015

Ages 14+

“It is said that the past always returns to haunt you. Yet some forgotten pasts have whispered names and a debt for collection. Dangerous curiosities stir a hidden darkness, one that patiently waits to seize control.

The subtle periphery between dream and reality is in peril and those chosen must face the evil behind this looming disaster. But lurking in the shadows, guiding their hand, lies the true threat and a hidden agenda.

Will they discover the truth in time? Or will those who should be heroes, become nothing more than the pawns of evil?”

Story – Very Good

From the first page, you are thrown into intrigue, trying to grasp what is happening. While this can be disconcerting, it changes the way you perceive events as they unfold. Slowly, but steadily, the story, the book, and the world begin to take shape around you. Miss Simmill has provided a delightful cast of characters and a well thought out narrative to give us an incredible story, one full of tension and dread, but also mystery and hope. Nothing is without intention, nothing is without merit, and we love it all.
The dissonance of an amnesic assassin turned healer is the crux of this story, and Miss Simmill presents the tension of such an unbelievable character in a very real and believable way, which we can say is no easy feat. She has taken considerable time in constructing her characters and her stories. Since we do not want to give anything away, despite the strength of the story, it is not even the greatest asset of this novel.

“There was no time wasted in reaching Blackwood’s audience room. It was a simple room which overlooked the rise and fall of the mountains and volcanoes in the distance. In order to give the impression of great knowledge to those who would stand before him, the room had been lined with bookshelves which were filled with both the common and rare texts. None of which he had even so much as cast his vision over.”

Style and Format – Superb

Her style is where Miss Simmill truly shines. The prose is nearly as magical as the world itself, leading us through this adventure she paints vivid imagery of mystical landscapes, leaving just enough to the imagination, giving us just another reason to turn each page, to see what will happen next. Now, she needs to do this, the length of such a book can be a hindrance if the pages are filled with mundane nonsense. However, that does not happen here. Miss Simmill has created something that is both epic in beauty and scope, and that is no simple task. Moreover, on top of all of that, the formatting is correct! Thank you, Miss Simmill. A couple of errors in the text can be easily overlooked because of the fascinating story and beautiful style.

“The shard itself remained firmly embedded within her shoulder, but there was no pressure now, nothing to prevent her movement. Placing his hand to his side where a sheath was now fastened, he gripped nothingness as if to seize a hilt, its form materializing as his finger’s wrapped firmly around the place it would rest. The motion of drawing summoning a new blade into existence.”

Literary Value – Above Average

Who are we as people? This question is, we believe, a central theme of this narrative. While we have seen it before, Miss Simmill presents it in a way that breathes new life into an old story, it feels familiar, and safe, but at the same time new and exciting. As well, we see an exploration of friendship with is not uncommon for the genre, but we see mysteries and intrigue too. Darrienia does not just pull you in, it is an immersive experience, for those who can take the time to appreciate it.

“Night picked it up from the floor, carefully unfolding it to admire the drawing upon its surface, as he looked at it he smiled. There was something sad, almost lonely, in the expression, it was there for but a moment then, just like the picture, it vanished.”

Overall –4.75, Highly Recommended

A bit of honesty, this book is one of the reasons we were set behind in our schedule. It is long, but that is one of the things that makes it so amazing. We have to recommend this book, as any book that can keep us reading and engages for over 700 pages must be good. Darrienia is one of those rare gems found when browsing indie published works. It is a treat for those who want to escape this world and it is a treat for those who love a good story with fun characters. Miss Simmill has delivered here, she has written something wonderful and given that book two of the series is already available, we cannot think of a better way to spend one’s time.
Do you want to read Darrienia? It is available on Amazon.