Summary:
The universe was created by twelve energies which turned into the 12 races on earth. Eleven of these races live in secret among mankind, coexisting in precarious harmony and dependent on the Balance between them to keep the universe alive. If one race falls, the universe falls.
With war at the door, a domino effect of events is about to begin that could bring about universal annihilation. Only Jane, a Reader, and Samuel, a human, have the power to save the threatened races and protect the Balance. Unsure of each other and what lies ahead, they have one chance to learn about the true nature of the 12 races. But what they uncover reveals more than they ever believed possible.
Brought together by the Balance, Jane and Samuel must choose to follow the legacy left to them, or watch as the 12 races erupt in a war that will destroy them all.
My Thoughts:
The Book Itself:
I went into this not knowing what to expect other than what the summary provided. At first it was a bit slow going, but then it picked up and I just couldn't put it down. While the summary only mentions Jane and Samuel, who are technically the main characters, most of the book is set in the past. Jane and Samuel are shown through the past what they have to do and who they can trust. In the past, the story revolves around Shasta and Dwade, a Reader and a human as well, who are going through a similar crisis: they have to retrieve a Creator who is pregnant with a baby that will restart the human race if they go instinct. However, it is revealed that the Chancellor they trusted and a travel companion they relied on, were corrupted and wanted to use the child as a pawn in their war. The story seemingly ends fine, with Jane and Samuel coming back to reality and being sent off to complete their quest, trusting no on but each other.
I really liked the development of Shasta and Dwade's characters, although I would love to know more about Shasta's past with Han and the backstory of Violen. I would also love to know more about Jade and Samuel, who are barely in the book at all.
Hopefully there will be a sequel or novella released later to clear up questions and tie up loose ends.
I hope this book does well, because I really enjoyed it.
The Packaging:
I don't know if what I got was just for early reviewers or for everyone once the book is officially released, but it came with a lot of stuff. It was in a nice, decorated box that contained the book, an embroidered bag to hold the book, a letter from the author, a necklace and candle with a symbol from the book on it, and a horse figure thing. Everything was really well put together and it arrived in perfect condition.
My Rating: 5 stars
