Review for "Heirs of Prophecy"

"Heirs of Prophecy" is the first book in Michael A. Rothman's "The Prophecies" series.

A dark haired young boy stands on a rock, one hand lifted to the sky. In between his fingers crackles of blue lightening spark. To his left another young boy shields his eyes from the light. Behind him a woman and a man approach from out of a pine forest, entranced by his powers. Ravens swirl around them all in a dreary sky. Since I got my copy the author has updated his cover, mostly changing the young boys to look more like teens and the the color of the lightening and sky to purple tones. Though the new cover is definitely more dramatic, I think the original stays closer to the storyline as those boys don't look like a 14 and a 12 year old any longer.

Ryan and Aaron Riverton are going vacation with their Mom, Aubrey, and Dad, Jared. Even the family cat Silver gets to go along. After finally reaching their surprise destination, they wake up in the aftermath of the cave-in to find themselves in a strange new place. What's even stranger is what has happened to each of them. Before long Ryan is struggling to control the wayward sparks flying from his fingertips and Aaron has the strength of three men. But in this strange new land, their powers could spell their doom.

 

What I liked:

• All of the characters are very enjoyable, from the family themselves to those that join them later on.
• I also liked the little snippets at the beginning of each chapter. They were quirky and occasionally funny insights into characters.
• The manifestations of their powers was unique and it was interesting to watch their progression. I especially liked Aubrey's ability to infuse milk and butter with her talents. It's a different take and not one I think I've ever seen before.
• I liked the idea of the fountains, though the characters took a heck of a lot longer to figure out their true purpose then I did, that's for sure.

What I disliked:

•  The dialogue and indeed the writing style itself was stilted and choppy. It felt forced and unnatural most of the time. Even small heartfelt moments began to feel kinda used and perfunctory. This was no more so than in the wording of the prophecy. In the same vein of thought all of the characters sound the same, with the exception of Dominic's lisp.
• Throughout the novel the pacing was off, especially when it came to battle scenes. The author took more time describing the smithing process than he did on probably all the battles put together. As such it made large moments feel insignificant and made me feel a little cheated out of what should have been a grand moment.
• There were no surprise moments pretty much anywhere in the book. You could see a plot twist coming from about a mile away. 
• The changes in point of view in my opinion kept the book from the sort of depth it needed to really shine.
• Every once in a while the author neglected a quotation mark. Out of all the grammar/punctuation mistakes you can make, this one is one that I find unforgivable. It can quickly become nigh on impossible to trace dialogue changes without quotation marks.

Overall the basic story line behind "Heirs of Prophecy" was a good one. With alot more polish it could become an epically good tale. As it stands however I found it slightly lacking. It would however be an exceptionally good read for young readers. "Heirs of Prophecy" is currently available for the Kindle for $3.99. The following books in the series "Tools of Prophecy" and "Lords of Prophecy" are each available for $5.99. You can find out more about the books and the author at www.michaelarothman.com

 

 



3 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for elementary and middle school aged fantasy readers only. Characters and family life are a wholesome and welcome change to the expected. In my research I've discovered that 'Heirs of Prophecy' even has an AR grade level, which is a 5.6. Meaning your average 5th grader should be apply to read this book without much if any difficulty.



 

Synopsis: "The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.
The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself - the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.
The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.
Only one thing stands in their way.
The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence."