That's What I'm Talking About...: Review: High Above

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Review: High Above

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High Above

Author: Mari Freeman

Release Date: March 16, 2011

Publisher: Decadent

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Dragons annihilated civilization some ten generations ago. A few Crossbreeds, humans born with dragon-like characteristics, now lead opposing tribes who still battle for dwindling resources.

Rhone’s wings have been stripped from his body by the Lax tribe, his family killed, and his hopes of leading the Mountain people away from the constant threat of marauders destroyed.

Ketta’s life has been full of pain and anguish. Her brother rules her and the Lax tribe with a bloody fist. Tired of the violence, Ketta takes a stand and rescues Rhone from the brink of execution.

Armed with knowledge from Ketta’s somewhat addled grandfather, the unlikely pair embarks on a quest to heal Rhone’s wings. Along the way, the couple struggles to find the truth beneath hatred and lies.

Desire and a mutual enemy bring them together; mistrust and secrets tear them apart. These lifelong foes will have to fly high above their differences to defeat a deadly dragon and save what’s left of both their tribes.

What I’m talking about:

The prologue of this short story read like a fantastic action movie - the kind that are labeled “summer blockbuster.” I LOVED the concept of dragons coming forth and decimating civilization. This created a post-apocalyptic setting without the usual politcal causes.

Fast-forward several generations and civilization is bleak. Humans and Crossbreeds tribes live in primitive settings built from what is left in the greater-Los Angles area. We don’t have much time to learn about Rhone and his tribe, because right from the beginning he is captured and tortured by rival tribe leader Nyx.

Nyx is simply a cruel, power-hungry Crossbreed. He rules with an iron fist, fostering fear among his own tribe. Ketta, Nyx’s sister (a rare Crossbreed female), is tired of her brother’s evil and believes Rhone was sent to free them all and bring peace. She helps him escape and the pair get help from Ketta’s grandfather, Arwin.

In spite of its shortened length, High Above is packed with action and excitement. It was fairly entertaining throughout, and the romance was passionate. The story had all the moving parts you’d expect - interesting plot, exciting setting, evil bad guy you love to hate, romance, action, and a happy ending. There were no major moral conflicts or overly dramatic moments to incite a deep emotional reaction, although there was one shocking moment that took me by surprise.

Unfortunately, because of its length, I felt there were places in the book that needed more which would have created a more fulfilling story. I wanted to know why Rhone could awaken Daisy (no spoilers here). I would have liked more time to develop the trust between Rhone and Arwin and learn more about Rhone’s history and tribe. However, it is a novella and there just wasn’t space to answer all of my questions.

Overall, this is an enjoyable novella-length fantasy story. It’s perfect for an afternoon getaway from life. I hope that Ms. Freeman expands upon this exciting world in future works.

My Rating:

Liked it - recommend (B)

Purchase Info:

High Above

Labels: 3 stars, Decadent Publishing, Mari Freeman, New-to-Me Author 2012, novella, paranormal romance, Twimom Review

4 comments:

paperbackdaydreamer.com said...: This sounds like a very exciting story Jen! I'm definitely going to have to check it out for sure! I enjoy a good action packed book every once in a while! :-D; January 11, 2012 3:16 PM
Angela Brown said...: I love dragons and the concept of Crossbreeds caught my attention right away. Thank you so much for sharing this review.; January 12, 2012 7:40 AM
Mari Freeman said...: I came to post a little thanks for Jen, but have been distracted watching all the lovely man-candy on the side-bar. Nice.

Thanks for taking the time to check out one of my books. Glad you enjoyed it!

~Mari; January 13, 2012 12:25 PM
Decadent Publishing said...: Thanks for the review of our Decadent Publishing novella. I agree, I like the world Mari built, too!; January 13, 2012 2:02 PM