Review for 'The Snow Song'

'The Snow Song' is the last entry in Heath Pfaff's trilogy 'The Hungering Saga'.

A young woman with pointed ears stands looking out over a ship's railing into the ebbing glow of an ocean sunset.
Lowin Fenly has been cast into the unwillingly role of King in his efforts to save his only child. But the world of political intrigue and betrayal is all too unfamilar even if the battle to stay alive and stay the course is.

What I liked:

• The inner struggle between Lowin's faltering humanity and the murderous beast within figures even more prominently.
• The evolving nature of the Blackcloak Brigade. 

What I disliked:

•  I found the plot twist with a reverted Malice to be useless and detracting from the story. 
• Again Lowin is surrounded by surprises and traps that are hardly surprising at all.
• The story progresses at a snail's pace with a few more exciting moments sprinkled sparsely throughout. Then towards the end it rushes to the finish and leaves the ending feeling unfinished. 
• More proofreading errors.
• Lowin's daughter spent two years with him, over four with Lucidil, and at the very least another four in Hungering lands.Why would she ever accept him at face value as her father?
• The final subverison of the inner struggle into mere pop psychology, bah.

'The Snow Song' is the most disappointing entry in 'The Hungering Saga'. It barely squeaks by with a three crown rating and I mean barely. As a finishing book in the series it leaves a hundred and one questions unanswered and therefore in my opinion fails at its most general appointed task. Why exactly is Lowin so extra-ordinary? It can't simply be because of the love affair with Kyea, since everyone seemed to know he would rise to greatness even before he fell in love with her. Is it the sexual relationship between Lowin and the others that changes their eyes or is it love? If its the latter surely more knights would have stumbled upon it over time. I'm assuming the Hungering traveled to Lowin's lands in search of the missing piece of their king but it's implied that they came for Lowin which again makes no sense.And why do the Blackcloaks evolve? Etc, Etc. 'The Snow Song' is available for $3.99 for the Kindle. You can find out more about the series and the author at offoxsmind.com

3 out of 5 crowns

 
Recommended for mature fantasy readers only due to graphic violence and sexual themes.






Synopsis: "Lowin has driven himself tirelessly towards his goals, seeking an end to the torments that have riddled his soul with guilt for years. The threat of the Hungering seems abated, but still greater challenges lay ahead. His companions are divided, and his own mind is split by dark thoughts, and darker urgings. Lowin must master himself, and find friends amidst the enemies that surround him, or all he has worked so hard to gain will be lost. Far across the ocean, an enemy beyond his understanding waits. Hero, tyrant, man, beast; which is Lowin Fenly?"

Collectively I give 'The Hungering Saga'  3 out of 5 crowns. A solid beginning, an even better middle, and a disappointing end crippled with the unsurprising plot twists, bland writing style, and pacing issues throughout.

   I leave you with a Youtube video from Three Day's Grace.
'Animal I have Become' which I believe would make an apt theme song for the best parts of this series.