Review for "Song of the Summer King"

Since my writer's block is still drifting in and out allowing a meager few pages here and there, I've decided to do reviews for the books I've been reading in the meantime. Most of the ones I'll be doing are free (or free at the time) ebooks for the Kindle. I'm finally using my Kindle Fire for its intended purchase instead of a fancy mp3/solitaire player. Yay me. Maybe one day one of these writers will return the favor, maybe not, who knows. And P.s. if you want to send me a free copy of your latest FINISHED published or self-published novel for a review you're welcome to it. I can't promise I'll like or that it'll get a good review but I can promise that I will read it and I will be honest and helpful with my criticism, just as I would hope from any of my readers.

Alright here we go!             ☺☺☺☺☻

"Song of the Summer King" is the debut novel of Jess E. Owen and her publishing company Five Elements Press.
The cover features beautiful golden artwork. A feathered black griffin or gryfon as Ms. Owen calls them stands at the forefront, one paw lifted to go forward, his head turned looking back. In the background a very large tawny wolf is emerging from the deeper shadows of the forest. It looks expectantly out onto the path, at the gryfon, and in turn the reader. I have to say that when browsing through the free kindle books it was the cover, more than the reviews and brief synopsis, that finally called me to read it. I'm very glad I did.
We learn rather quickly that the black gryfon on the cover is our main character, Rashard or as he is affectionately called Shard. Shard lives in the world of the Silver Isles, a small collection of islands in the middle of the ocean. He is young, on the verge of adulthood, impetuous, and clearly haunted by his need to fit in and the stigma associated with his birth. His fear of being exiled from the only family he has ever known is poignant and driving throughout the story. We met the second character from the cover during the initiation hunt that will earn Shard his place within his tribe. Catori, is a wolf, and the sworn enemy of the gryfons. But when Shard does the unthinkable and not only talks to Catori but takes her advice he opens up a whole chapter of his life that was previously unknown and will further complicate his story.
Ok... So that's the gist of it without revealing anything that shouldn't know.

Now I'll try to leave out spoilers but no guarantee's beyond this point.

Things I loved about this book: 

• The characters feel very real and you are happy to traipse alongside Shard as he grows and learns more about his place in the world. 
• The nature connection. The pompous way the larger gryphons assume that everything belongs to them and every creature that is not a gryphon is somehow lesser and unworthy of attention reminds me of the way many humans feel about the other creatures we share the earth with. It makes it easier to dislike the big gryphons. And Shard only begins to grow into his true powers when he accepts the relationship his ancestors had with the earth. 
• It surprised me! While I figured out a couple of the twists ahead of time there was actual a pretty big one that caught me by surprise. I love being surprised and it happens so rarely. After years and years of reading and watching every thing I came across I can usually sniff a plot turn a mile away. Hint- It has to do with the Widow Queen
• The coming of age storyline mixed in with the doing what you know is right regardless of what is easy and staying true to your self  is a keeper. 
• I loved the mixture of Norse mythology sprinkled throughout the novel

Things I didn't like

• At the very beginning Ms. Owens writing style is a little verbose. I found myself floundering in the early details. Thankfully either I adjusted very well to the style later on or she improved midway because the further in I got the less I noticed this.
• Probably related to the verbose problem there were a few phrases that I had to reread a couple of times to understand in the way it was meant to be read as with a few editing/grammer mistakes.
• Shard doesn't grow into his position as hero as quickly as I would have liked. He clearly has a strong moral fiber but at the same time is wishy-washy in his actions.
• The bad guys are for most part blatantly bad.

Given the option I would read this book again and I fully intend to read the next book in the series to see how Shard grows into his role as a leader, what exactly it was that pushed the Red gryphons from their homeland as well as seeing if Shard's best friend turns out to be the gryphon I desperately hope he is; but doubt.

☺☺☺☺ ☻
 4 out of 5 smilies
 Recommended to anyone who loves a good fantasy and suitable for teens and mature children.
At the time of this review "Song of the Summer King" is available for $5.99 on the Kindle. You can find more information about the book and the author at www.jessowen.com

The synopsis:   "Shard is a gryfon in danger. He and other young males of the Silver Isles are old enough to fly, hunt, and fight--old enough to be threats to their ruler, the red gryfon king.
In the midst of the dangerous initiation hunt, Shard takes the unexpected advice of a strange she-wolf who seeks him out, and hints that Shard's past isn’t all that it seems. To learn his past, Shard must abandon the future he wants and make allies of those the gryfons call enemies.
When the gryfon king declares open war on the wolves, it throws Shard’s past and uncertain future into the turmoil between.
Now with battle lines drawn, Shard must decide whether to fight beside his king . . .or against him."