Hikariuchuu: A fantasy realm filled with adventure, danger, uncertainty, magic, and monsters

 

Hikariuchuu: The Realm of the Lights by Ethan Kenyon-Tate is a coming-of-age hero’s journey. It takes place in the fantasy realm of Hikariuchuu where different sentient species live separated from one another. Young Adam Ekakizoku and his friends Sam, Elliot, and Jamie live in the town of Nakumura with a thousand other hitoko (humans). Adam lives with his mom, little brother Jack, and a grandfather who drinks and sleeps too often. Life consists of everyday troubles like a pesky younger brother, what people think of you, and the inconvenience of chores and school (which in this world is the gakkou). Everything changes the day Adam’s best friend Sam announces, “Lizards! There are lizards, marching into town! Scores of them.”

 

Adam runs to check it out, but to his dismay, the lizards (the tokageko) line up the hitoko boys to choose one to take to Akumamachi, to become the pet of a demonic akumako princess. The tokagekos narrow it down to two. Sam and Adam. Adam can tell the lizard is ready to choose him when Sam steps forward and volunteers. He is caged and carried off to Akumamachi. Everyone knows that Sam stepped forward to save Adam, and Adam knows everyone thinks he is a coward. It is his fault Sam has become a pet for the daughter of Am’so G’Jeok ruler of the akumako, ruler of the axis, lord of Kidariuchuu.

 

 

To Adam’s dismay, the elders of Nakumura decide not to rescue Sam for fear of repercussions. Life returns to normal, but it isn’t normal. Sam is gone. Adam still hangs out with Elliot, Jamie, and against his will, his little brother, Jack. He feels others shunning him and struggles with the fact that everyone knows he is a coward and that the loss of Sam is his fault. 

 

Adam decides to rescue Sam, but it won't be an easy task. Akumamachi is on the other side of the realm. His friends, Elliot and Jamie want to come along, and so, the three of them make a plan. Adam's little brother hears what they are planning, and he wants in on it,or he is telling. He becomes part of the group of would-be rescuers. As they sneak out of the house before dawn, they are caught by their grandfather, who ends up joining the rescue mission.

 

These unlikely five make their way across the realm amid unique settings filled with adventure, danger, uncertainty, magic and monsters. Relationships grow, and Adam, the self-centered reluctant hero, starts to see just how selfish he is. Meanwhile, Sam, is in Akumamachi where the princess, to her surprise, learns that he isn’t just an animal and that he can reason and talk! 

 

I recommend Hikariuchuu to adults and young adults who enjoy aliens, the unknown, and a main character who grows but is still imperfect. As for what I didn’t like, I have to say when I started the story, the unusual names of things, places, and people groups were difficult to follow. With everything different from the real world, I had no anchor to understand this reality. But as I read, my understanding grew. It was an organic process and soon no longer a problem. Secondly, if you are a sensitive type to violence, some incidents in the story may bother you. However, if you can read books such as Ender’s Game, The Hobbit, or Lord of the Rings without issues, this book comes recommended to you. I give it a strong four stars.

 

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As Book Hookup, I am a longtime book reviewer, and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with Book Tasters. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

 

 

 

Keegan’s Wrath epic fantasy at is best

Keegan’s Wrath is epic fantasy at its best. It is unpredictable and magical, with threads of love, adventure/action, and plenty of turmoil woven into a multifaceted plot. This book is number 5 in the Katori Chronicles series. I had not read the first four and wondered if I would be able to get into the story with enough understanding to enjoy it. Any doubts vanished in the first chapter. Author A. D. Lombardo did a masterful job of crafting a book 5. It can stand alone (if need be), though I have fallen in love with this world and its characters, have picked up the first four books in the series, and am currently enjoying Half-Light (Book 1 Katori Chronicles).

 

Keegan’s Wrath’s protagonist, Kai, is a young man who makes a delightful leading character. Throughout the story, he matures toward being a strong leader, yet his doubts make him vulnerable. He struggles with guilt wondering if the looming war is his fault because he revealed Katori magic to the outside world. His beastmaster abilities are superior, but he is young and still learning how to use them to their fullest. He worries about his lack of magical visions when he needs them most. But time does not wait for him to learn all he needs to know. He must go head-to-head into battle against his powerful nemesis and biological father, Keegan. It can cost him everything if he makes a wrong move. Kai strives to save the world from his father’s dark power while doing his best to protect his loved ones and rescue his kidnapped mother from Keegan’s clutches. Keegan’s Wrath is a true good vs. evil epic fantasy.

 

 

One of the things I enjoyed most in this book is that Kai has several close relationships. So while he often tries to take the lone-wolf approach to his strategies, his friends will not hear of it. The two closest people in his life are his young wife, Rayna, and his mother, Mariana, who is controlled against her will by his father’s dark magic. His relationships weigh heavy in Kai's decision-making because he has already lost a dear friend to his father’s malice.

 

Fueled by anger and revenge, Keegan’s dark magic contrasts Kai’s motives of love and doing the right thing. Keegan repeatedly tries to pull Kai to join him on the dark side as he sets things in motion to bring about civil war for Katori. His plans also include the overtake of Kai's adopted home of Diu, and the deceptive involvement of Milnos as a pawn to help take over the world. Kai must stop him and rescue his mother, but to do it, he must risk everything and everyone as he heads into the ultimate battle where his biggest challenge is trying to find a way to overcome his parents without killing them. Is it possible?

 

I give Keegan’s Wrath a healthy 5 stars, and I look forward to reading more of Lombardo's work. I highly recommend it to fantasy fans, especially those who enjoy plenty of magic, dragons, and battles of good vs. evil amid a story of love, family, and friends.

 

Loves animals, the country life and is still a tomboy at heart. You can take her off the bobcat, but you’ll never get her to enjoy the city. She dabbled in playing the piano, sports and fishing.​

About A.D. Lombardo

Angela Lombardo was born in Akron, Ohio, raised on a farm by her grandparents. Angela loves animals, the country life and is still a tomboy at heart. You can take her off the bobcat, but you’ll never get her to enjoy the city. She dabbled in playing the piano, sports and fishing.​

Her love of comics started with Spiderman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Being a Trekkie and a BMX rider, Angela did not have many girlfriends or time for makeup. She spent most of her time with her older brother crashing dirt bikes and three-wheelers. As a teenager, her grandmother sent her to Barbizon to teach her how to be a proper girl. She is fortunate she had a son.

​Angela started writing The Half-Light in fall 2017 after a sleepless night gave her pause about the mother in a made-up story she created for her son. She spent the weekend solving the mystery of where the mother went.

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As Book Hookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with #Blackberry Book Tours. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.