In any book review, there is always the
potential for some plot point or other piece of vital information to be
inadvertently leaked. I will make my
best effort to leave the stones turned face down, but also recommend you
proceed with caution, as you should in reading any review of a book you have
not already read for yourself. After
all, your own review upon entering the shiny, untrodden world of the unknown is
really the only one that truly matters.
And rest assured, oh lover of the unexplored worlds lurking on
bookshelves everywhere, the world found in the Ransom Series is one well worth
adventuring. But for now, the review of
this, the first novel from A.C. Autry, “Ransom of the Healer.”
The pace in the first half of the novel is
slower, as the primary characters are introduced and the world is created. The author spins the web of the story line by
line, pulling the reader into an unknown, mysterious new world a little at a
time, carefully not revealing too much too quickly. You spend most of the first half gaining an
understanding that there are supernatural things afoot, but without
understanding the full details. A.C.
Autry’s world for the Ransom Series is not just a new spin on well-travelled
landscapes. The author takes some
fundamental concepts from the rich traditions of fantastical literature, and
crafts an entirely new race of beings.
The setting is modern, so the idea is that these beings are among us
even now - we just don’t know it. The
story is told from a “his” and “hers” point of view, alternating between Catryn
and Nathan, and seeing the world through two sets of eyes, some of which might
or might not even be human, effectively builds the mystery while providing the
back story needed to move into the present action.
The second half of the book is a breakneck
speed race to the finish, only to find that the finish is just setting the stage
for a much larger story to be continued in the next edition. A.C. Autry hints at many subplots throughout
the book, and leaves the reader with much to wonder about and speculate
on. The true power of this book is that
the characters themselves become so important to you. Kurt Vonnegut believed that a compelling story
always required at least one character for the reader to root for. In “Ransom of the Healer” the reader will
find many such characters, and they are not your stock, two dimensional
archetypes either. They each carry their
own backstory, their own flaws, and their own hopes. All of which I can’t wait to find out more
about as the series unfolds.
In the world of fantasy, the Ransom series
breathes fresh air into a genre overrun by vampires and werewolves, and provides
we lovers of worlds beyond our own an opportunity to visit a place that just
might be there, if only we could see it.
I wait with eager eyes and space on my bookshelf for the sequel to “Ransom
of the Healer.” May it find its way to
print quickly!
