"The sound drowned out all the mayhem surrounding him. He shut his eyes as the panic set in. He could not imagine what wickedness was approaching him."
 |
Eleftheria by Jade de Kelaita Trafford Publishing
book review by Caroline Blaha-Black
The words above echo the sentiments of Johnathon, a young man, who has everything going for him—a wealthy family, handsome looks, good grades, a multitude of sports awards, and an upcoming marriage with a girl called Alexa, whose parents are also wealthy and well-connected. However, Johnathon's life starts spiraling out of control when he pulls a man from a burning truck in a car accident. The man is taken to a nearby hospital, and since that day, Johnathon is not himself and starts avoiding Alexa, his parents, and friends. The shock of the accident keeps replaying in his mind, and he starts seeing strange visions of beings clad in an armor of light, landscapes in colors he can't identify, and dark, misshaped beings that seem to attack him with a sinister force.
As Johnathon tries to make sense of the events, not knowing whether they're real or not, he gradually learns that the glimpses he's been having are of Eleftheria, a land that is a kingdom over all worlds. A being of light, King Vasilias, called upon Johnathon to fight against a dark being called Ekluo, who has imprisoned the souls of his father, mother, and his girlfriend in his dark kingdom of Khaos. As Johnathon travels to Eleftheria to do Vasilias' bidding, he meets Elizabeth, a girl from the coffee shop, and falls in love with her unexpectedly. A new understanding dawns on him, as he breaks off his relationship with Alexa. A war is raging in Eleftheria, and Johnathon has been called in to fight Ekluo and his dark minions to free his loved-ones' souls.
The book is engagingly and imaginatively written and keeps the reader pulled in until the very end. Johnathon's character is well-defined and multi-faceted, and the reader can identify with him easily. The author illustrated the emotional anguish well that the main character is going through, and the happenings in this world and Elefthria keep the reader glued to the page. The cover is glossy, and eye-catching, and the book is slim enough to be read in one sitting. Great for lovers of science-fiction and fantasy.