I was introduced to author A. D. Lombardo writing when I reviewed her book Keegan’s Wrath, which happens to be book 5 in The Katori Chronicles. I fell in love with the characters, the world, the magic and how it all came together with action packed vivid clarity. When I finished the book, I decided to read the rest of the books in the series from the beginning. Not that I recommend reading the last book in a series first, but I have to admit, because I did, as I read The Half-Light, Book 1 in the Katori Chronicles with foreknowledge, it shined a light on the masterful job Lombardo does with placing subtle plot threads that will be pulled later to enhance and move the story along with continuity.
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As the first book in the series, The Half-Light does a great job of introducing both characters and setting making the story come to life. Readers live and learn through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Prince Kai, the heir to the throne of Diu with a complicated history. He lost his mother to a dragon in the palace garden when he was young which live him with vague memories and nightmares. Most of life is spent in the palace with guards watching out for his safety until he learns how to sneak out.
Now that his father is remarried, he has half-siblings and a questionable stepmother who seems to have dark sway over his father. On a personal level, Kai was promised at birth to wed Princess Amelia of Diu and is slated to become King of the old Bangloo kingdom of Milnos far to the northwest of Diu when they marry. While Amelia is pretty and kind, she is more like a sister and another girl, a common girl, has captured his interest.
Along with the normal challenges of growing into manhood, and doing his best to step outside the confines of palace life, Kai learns he has Katori powers from two people who knew his mother. These powers are to be kept secret, but at times they are quite obvious. I’ll say no more about this aspect of the story to avoid spoilers, but these abilities add an innovative layer to the story and the world that keeps the pages turning.
This book is action-packed, easy to read, entertaining, and unpredictable and am happy to give it 5-stars. There is nothing I didn’t like, and I look forward to reading Mariana's Secret (The Katori Chronicles Book 2) next. I highly recommend this book to epic fantasy lovers. It’s a perfect choice for a YA audience and those who are older and enjoy the genre.
As Book Hookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it.
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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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