Leighton's Blog

Hey guys! As part of the Christian Science Fiction Fantasy Blog Tour I’m going to review Starlighter by Bryan Davis! As is usual, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher on the condition that I review it on my blog.

First, I would like to tell you… I was NOT ordered to give a favorable review of this book. Thus, I am compelled to tell you my opinions of this book. Here goes:

I. Did. Not. Like. It. That. Much.

The book follows the intertwined (and then separated) journeys of Jason, Koren, Elyssa, and Randall.

One correlation to Wolf’s Bard, Starlighter starts out with a sword contest. (believe it or not, even though Wolf’s Bard was written well in advance to Starlighter and not released to the general public yet in full).

About the setting,

The story takes place in the mythical land of Mesolantrum, a land filled with all kinds of interesting things such as Photo Guns, medieval Castles and Sci-Fi Genetic identification filters. As usual with any Bryan Davis book, it is a mix of genres. Everyone lives like they did in Medieval times, but with little hints of weird technology.

Jason Masters

Is a kind of typical younger brother. I was unable to relate properly to him, seeing as I have never had an older brother, myself being the older brother. Jason’s older brother Adrian leaves near the beginning of the story  to go where (plot spoiler) Jason ends up and we never see him again. I found that frustrating because I had just bonded with Adrian as a character (really awesome character, slightly similar to Tiwyr from Wolf’s bard) and then for him to never be covered in this book at all was quite disappointing.

Elyssa

Is the obvious love-interest of Jason, plugged into the story without the reader’s permission. She was kidnapped out of her home by the evil (and fat) Governor Prescott (Who blamed it on a bear killing. Starting to sound like The Oath, huh?) and then rescued by Jason (for a reason I forget). She has some kind of un-explainable sorceress-like power.

Randall

Is the slightly spoiled-rich-kid son of Governor Prescott who thinks it was Jason who killed his dad. (at first) and is handy with a photo gun. He is the (Walter-like) side-kick to Jason throughout the story.

Koren

Lives on the planet Starlight and is a slave gifted with the power to tell stories (weird, huh?) which somehow that makes the evil dragon overlords sleepy. (so boring that I… *SNORE*) She is the second Starlighter (yeah, that’s where the name of the book comes in) and prophesies say that she will one day bring peace between the enslaved human race and the power hungry dragons. There is also a minor love-interest character for her names Charlie who ends up (somehow, don’t ask me) liking Elyssa instead of Koren. (wimp)

Tibalt

Is the son of the person who made (and then blocked) the doorway to Starlighter from Mesolantra. He is very old. His nickname is Tibber the Fibber (Not a very good example at truthtelling) and he lives up to his name many times throughout the story.

Now that I have covered the basic story (without giving too much away hopefully) I will tell you that the MAIN reason that I wasn’t to enthusiastic about this book is the ending. The ending not only solved NOTHING, but mixed and matched the wrong people with and separated them without any word as to what became of Adrian!

Augh.

Here is the list of people participating in the CSFF Blog Tour.

Brandon Barr Beckie Burnham Jeff Chapman R. L. Copple CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Andrea Graham Tori Greene Nikole Hahn Ryan Heart Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Leighton Jane Maritz Rebecca LuElla Miller John W. Otte Donita K. Paul Crista Richey SarahFlan Chawna Schroeder Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson KM Wilsher