Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Lowest Realm
SERIES: The Miscreant #1
AUTHOR: Amy-Alex Campbell
PUBLISHER: AAC Publishing
RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2019
LENGTH: 319 Pages
BLURB:
Life on an offshore oil rig is grueling hard work. For Nika the hard work, isolation and discipline is ideal.
On the eve of flying back to the mainland for a two week break, disaster strikes, and Nika is thrown into darkness.
When he awakes in a strange world, with no memory of his past, he finds himself in the presence of monks, who offer to help, on one condition. Nika must deliver an urgent message to the king, and in return, the mysterious monks will help him recall his memories and find a way home.
Instead, Nika is sent on a long journey with his new friend Freyne, and the spoilt Princess Iryna, to fulfill a prophecy that will restore balance to the world.
Nika must adjust to more than just a new world; as his body undergoes a transformation he does not understand, he must also deal with being hunted, forbidden love, mancery, and gods he’s never heard of.
REVIEW:
An accident on an oil rig sends Nika into the abyss only to wake in an alternate realm, with sketchy memories. A cat guides him and tells him about the kingdom. Then, Nika is sent on a mission to deliver a letter, which takes him on another adventure. Along the way he meets Freyne.
Freyne suffered some horrific dreams, but he didn’t know where they came from or what they meant. He didn’t know if they were lost memories or something else. Nika is a beacon to him. When he joins the group on their adventure, he not only becomes the wise one, but he and Nika become lovers.
There is a prophecy that will restore peace and protection to the kingdom. It is up to Nika, Freyne, Arnie the cat, and a royal entourage to see it completed. Along the way, Nika develops powers that Freyne helps him control. These abilities help the group out of some dicey situations.
The prologue is dramatic, eye-opening and heartbreaking. It immediately connects the reader to Niko. From there, I would compare the story to a jigsaw puzzle where there isn’t an accompanying picture on the box, but you have a vague idea of what it’s about. Initially, there are lots of individual pieces that when turned over don’t mean anything. The outline represents the world and the basics of the story – have mission – will complete. The inner pieces only make sense when joined and added to the whole. Occasionally, a section doesn’t make sense until that final piece is inserted. The more the jigsaw was completed, the clearer the story became.
The scene-setting and details of the story are extensive. It was refreshing to see the author not shy away from some of the more gruesome details, such as the hunting of animals from bears to bunnies. I also liked that Nika and Freyne could handle themselves in a fight and the way the group came together like a family as the journey progressed. Some of the scenes reminded me of Sentinel/Guide stories, where senses could be dialed up and down, with some additional sorcery aspects. The story also concentrates on the emotional side of the relationship between Nika and Freyne rather than the physical. Intimacy is fade out.
There are some super elements, events and drama’s, and evil lurks behind every corner. Parts of the story are totally engaging, emotional, dramatic and brilliant. It was a shame that it took me till almost halfway through before absorption in the story truly engaged. Given its length, that was a loooot of words. Then, I couldn’t stop reading. So, one word I would apply to this tale is – perseverance.
The story is told in the third person from a range of viewpoints. It has the potential to be a super fantasy novel. However, technically, it could be better. And it is this aspect that lets it down. Among other things, there are independent body parts and plenty of occasions where the words, started, and began, are used.
I found The Lowest Realm to have elements of brilliance, and some scenes made me cry. But, I feel it needs another good edit to remove the technical gaffs, tidy it up and get it looking more polished. Then it could soar.
RATING: 
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