Child of Creation

Child of Creation: Robert Donohue

Imagine a world that will soon be destroyed unless a young child can manage to eliminate the threat to the balance of power between all of different races and humans that have to co-exist. What happens when the weight of what will occur is in the hands of this young boy who is smart, protected because of who he is and what his father did for the world, is placed in a position and placed on earth but what happens to him is in his control and how he reacts will determine which of those alive wins the struggle for power. This young man has a voice that is hidden deep within him and heard only by him guiding him at times when needed and learns that he has been given the ability to do all of the things he needs to do to aid the voice in this struggle. Learning to control his abilities and powers will help him greatly as his God will help guide him along with this inner voice too. He is the Child of Creation and has been placed here for this purpose. The voice is the voice of creation or behind the creation and the spirit this child calls God must use him to cause something to be created.

A young boy witnesses the death of his parents and he begins a journey that will not only change his life but that of others. This is a story of coming of age, balance of power, self-realization, betrayals, loyalties, friendships and the struggle for power between many different groups. There are gnomes who are at the center of the conflicts and ambushes, elves, dwarves, trolls and even magical Sprites all vying to power and each one wanting to take over what the others have. Lark is alone and the only son of the village’s best hunter and is a threat to everyone after seeing his parents violently murdered and his killers not caught.

Alone in the woods and spying a young woman Lark becomes entranced with what he sees. But, when found out little does he realize that this would be the start of a journey that would bring him closer to filling his father’s legacy, understanding his future and enduring struggles and battles that no young child in our world today might withstand and be able to endure. Away from his camp and seeing his newfound companion will he adhere to her wishes and obey her rules? Their destination is the Valley of the Kings and the end result is will he be able to trust her and can she trust him? Olek’s Vale is where they are going and his father and some of the other villagers told him stories about place as he asks why they are going there? Lark would learn his many duties and one when they arrive at the Vale would be to take care of her supplies and be responsible for seeing them properly transported. When arriving at a checkpoint the first problem was to get him through and using another name like Kral she hoped that no one would realize just who Lark. Going to this specific fair is their goal and meeting Telon who would join them would change the dynamics of their group as he was being sent along with them to find him a job. Lark’s father was Roclin who was the best hunter in the world at the time and Telon was a farmer. Greldaken was the owner of the lodging where they first stayed and they would be honored at the table of this man also a farmer. Lark was not surprised by this declaration and he thought back to when Laurel had first told Greldaken who she was and his surprised expression. She was the eldest daughter of the elven king and heir to the elven throne. Going to the Great Western Fair was their primary goal and the purpose was to meet all the rules of the lands west of the Great Divide. During these meetings and you the reader will get to attend them all the kinds, chieftains and religious leaders gather to discuss the continued welfare of the people they rule and to discuss at the meetings the common defense of the “western people from the hordes of the east, on the other side of the Great Divide.”

Lark/Kral now became apprentice to Laurel of Elventon. Serif of the Vale plays the next important role in this novel, as he is the one that will set certain events into motion. Kistan seems to be working for this man and calls him master but when you get to know him he’s underhanded, conniving and does everything in his power to destroy his master, betray his trust and find himself on the wrong side of many of the other leaders. Sagiton is dangerous and a powerful leader who Seraf comes in conflict with at first meeting. But, the dwarf with him protecting this man realizes that they need to conduct business in an orderly and peaceful manner. Sagiton is the dwarf and Seraf called the old man. There are many characters in this novel that you will meet who will participate in the council meetings, the conflicts and one is Chief Quarry another Raspitor of Elventon, son of Forrestan king of the elves. Sagiton a dwarf and King Pridefal named his son Koltwen after the legendary Cantorian warrior and swordsman. Prince Koltwen had a strong reputation. There are 11 elven kings with a lot of power and each one had power of their own sovereignty. Within pages 66-67 the author introduces us the other powerful leaders and then we meet Bentinor his grandson who is about to learn a lesson or lessons in life he won’t expect. Seraf intends to send his grandson with the group to the fair. He intends to tell him to watch you and report anything that might affect the Vale back to him on his return. Bentinor is to take over the Vale when Seraf is gone. The Great Western Fair is the destination but there will be many struggles, battles, and obstacles before they see the light of day at this fair. Sagiton is the one that is enlisted to take Seraf’s grandson on hand and he’ not happy. Bentinor needs the journey to see how tough he can become whether he can own up. Seraf has concerns about a plot uncovered by Pantril concerning some of his family members, brothers, sisters and more. Within this novel many will learn that just who can be trusted and who is a traitor. Pantil it is revealed learned about a plot that involves huge amounts of money and a struggle for power, which is all money amounts to. His family of brothers and sisters and more do not like the way he runs the Vale and he is not his concern but his grandson is his primary worry. The reset is unfolded within pages 70-71 as he bids them all farewell and hopefully his grandson will make him proud but only time will tell.

Kistan and Laurel have a meeting but will she realize that he is using his position to take hold of their trust and misused it? As she reveals that she is Laurel of Elventon heir to the throne of Florestan. With the groups on place Laurel heading one, Sagiton another and still one more the lines are drawn and the battles are about to be fought with some losing their lives and others hoping to forge ahead to the council meetings. Benitnor has learned a lot and deep inside he knows many tests that he has to pass in order to the aging Seraf to feel secure in passing the mantle to him in the future. When learning his fate the young man will either grow into a responsible person or be put out to fend for himself.

As the journeys begin and they meet up at the council meetings we meet Tweelet a young girl who is smart, astute and becomes an integral part in what happens after going through many difficult hurdles including being used as a slave. When she finally emerges as a General we meet two others that will be her champions to guide her as the secret behind Lark’s father’s death comes to light and the truth behind who is funding theses wars and the traitors are revealed.

Tweelet studied the seating chart and listened to a heated discussion developing among the council members as the issue of proxy votes comes to light and how they would be handled. Corfinon held the Cantorian proxy and appeared to have ten votes their way, while the group led by the Monpotian council had 7. The issue that remained were the five remaining at-large votes and since these meetings are not to be divulged to the public I wont’ way any more. However, within the mix are the gnomes who are on the fence and the Monpotians have continued their diplomatic ties with them and things will get out of hand when the truth behind what the gnomes have planned is revealed and this group is in on the gnomish atrocity and Cranditon would be the first to demand that they be suspended from the Council of Defense. The next chapters deal with the many different council meetings and the hope of finding out what role Kistan plays in all of this, as he was a traitor. Montpotian’s, Tweelet thought adhered to the council edits and yet she had to get up and speak against that? Could she and would they listen?

As things come to a boil the author creates delicate scenes with strong opposition during the council meetings as they wait for Sagiton to arrive with his troops after being attacked and the ending lets readers know that there is much more as the solution has yet to be revealed. The gnomes want to take over Olek’s Vale and they have the money to do it with the help of what Kistan has done. But, things will change when and if they finally arrive at the fair but that’s for the next installment. Sagiton, Lark, Telon with his companions plus Commander Tweelet will return along with Laurel and Bentinor who received a special final letter from his grandfather telling him his mission that will follow and what he hopes he will do in the future. An open ending that lets readers know that Sagiton, Lark and Bentinor move away form the damp for a practice session and there is much more to come as they travel to the fair and Lark’s life will change and be altered one more time. Great story line with complex multiple plots as it is a coming of age story for both Lark and Bentinor and many revelations about Laurel’s past and the connections she had to Lark’s father and family.

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine