Kaylin McFarren's Blog - Posts Tagged "fantasy-fiction"
Independent Book Review
A captivating story of love, struggle, and a mother’s fight for her son
Kaylin McFarren conjures up a mind-boggling fantasy world with Requiem for a Queen. Samara Daemonium is a Nephalem, part-demon and part-angel. Pregnant with the son of Lucifer, the King of Hell, Samara is determined to escape his armies. All she wants is for Papillon to grow up as righteous and kind, away from the demonic influence of his father.
With the help of Onoskelis, Samara manages to keep him hidden from Lucifer for six years. But when the power-hungry Queen Lucinda intends on gaining the throne of hell and kidnaps Papillon, Samara is forced to fight.
Intent on the quest for her son, Samara must reckon with the Witches of the Eternal Flame, a mighty dragon named Vetis kidadl and the demon hunter Botis. But a mother’s instinct to protect her child is fierce and burns bright. Requiem for a Queen makes the reader perceive the alluring influence of evil and the tremendous power of love.
The novel has an exemplary narrative, and the author makes it easy to visualize the paracosm she created. The vivid descriptions of black crows, demon hunters, Nephalem, angels, and other mystical creatures enrapture. The bloodshed of the Red War and the tortures of hell are also described in great detail.
The plot expounds on love, chivalry, the importance of family, and the alluring nature of power. Samara’s love for Papillon and her instinct to protect his soul from evil are heartwarming, a rare featured in a novel with so much darkness. Damien’s love for Samara and the unity of the Nephalem family even has its own share of heartwarming feelings.
The novel portrays several powerful female characters. Onoskelis is a clever shapeshifter, Eva Lena is a loyal sprite, and Storm Eunice is a skilled Demon Slayer. Samara is a loving mother. She is bold and unflinching in the face of danger, and Queen Lucinda, although evil, is a force to be reckoned with.
Samara’s journey helps her gain a better understanding of her powers and her identity as a combination of good and evil. She shows admirable strength of character when she is forced to return to hell and the manipulative presence of Lucifer.
The verse given at the beginning of the book adds a poetic element to the book. It provides an admirable synopsis of the entire course of events detailed in the plot. “Skies filled with swords, bows and arrows on both sides, Lucinda seeks power, and all it provides,” adequately captures the violence of the Red War to come. What an intriguing way to start this book! But the beauty might not hit you until after you’ve finished the whole thing. Readers who enjoy occult and fantasy will love Requiem for a Queen."
Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy / Occult / Horror
Print Length: 341 pages
Requiem For A Queen
Kaylin McFarren conjures up a mind-boggling fantasy world with Requiem for a Queen. Samara Daemonium is a Nephalem, part-demon and part-angel. Pregnant with the son of Lucifer, the King of Hell, Samara is determined to escape his armies. All she wants is for Papillon to grow up as righteous and kind, away from the demonic influence of his father.
With the help of Onoskelis, Samara manages to keep him hidden from Lucifer for six years. But when the power-hungry Queen Lucinda intends on gaining the throne of hell and kidnaps Papillon, Samara is forced to fight.
Intent on the quest for her son, Samara must reckon with the Witches of the Eternal Flame, a mighty dragon named Vetis kidadl and the demon hunter Botis. But a mother’s instinct to protect her child is fierce and burns bright. Requiem for a Queen makes the reader perceive the alluring influence of evil and the tremendous power of love.
The novel has an exemplary narrative, and the author makes it easy to visualize the paracosm she created. The vivid descriptions of black crows, demon hunters, Nephalem, angels, and other mystical creatures enrapture. The bloodshed of the Red War and the tortures of hell are also described in great detail.
The plot expounds on love, chivalry, the importance of family, and the alluring nature of power. Samara’s love for Papillon and her instinct to protect his soul from evil are heartwarming, a rare featured in a novel with so much darkness. Damien’s love for Samara and the unity of the Nephalem family even has its own share of heartwarming feelings.
The novel portrays several powerful female characters. Onoskelis is a clever shapeshifter, Eva Lena is a loyal sprite, and Storm Eunice is a skilled Demon Slayer. Samara is a loving mother. She is bold and unflinching in the face of danger, and Queen Lucinda, although evil, is a force to be reckoned with.
Samara’s journey helps her gain a better understanding of her powers and her identity as a combination of good and evil. She shows admirable strength of character when she is forced to return to hell and the manipulative presence of Lucifer.
The verse given at the beginning of the book adds a poetic element to the book. It provides an admirable synopsis of the entire course of events detailed in the plot. “Skies filled with swords, bows and arrows on both sides, Lucinda seeks power, and all it provides,” adequately captures the violence of the Red War to come. What an intriguing way to start this book! But the beauty might not hit you until after you’ve finished the whole thing. Readers who enjoy occult and fantasy will love Requiem for a Queen."
Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy / Occult / Horror
Print Length: 341 pages
Requiem For A Queen
INCREDIBLE REVIEW FOR REQUIEM FOR A QUEEN
"Something which has always been truly fascinating is whether or not our parents or genetics truly define us, or if our actions are truly our own. The divide between good and evil, right and wrong, always seems to bring up questions of whether or not a person is beholden to the way they are raised, the people who birthed them, or the genes that make them who they are. One of the most creative ways to explore this dilemma in our society seems to be fiction, and one genre that has mastered this has to be the occult horror genre.
In author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For a Queen, the author explores this question through the story of Samara and her son Papi. The third book in the hell-bending series Gehenna, the author shares the story of Samara, one of the Nephilim who has recently escaped from a nightmarish experience as a prisoner and then wife to Lucifer in Hell. However, as she prepares to give birth to his son, she must contend not only with her newfound motherhood, but a brewing war between the forces of heaven and hell. As Lucifer’s daughter fights to regain control of the throne of hell, Samara must escape one hellish nightmare after another, all while trying to protect her son and find a means of making sure he doesn’t become the menacing evil his father is.
The author continues her long-running experience as a horror writer to bring the balance of occultism and fantasy-driven world-building which this series has become known for. One thing of note to readers is that this is definitely a mature series, and there are some trigger warnings of abuse and sexual assault that need to be addressed for future readers who may be new to this series. As there are significant sections of story that delve into the mythos of hell and demons, instances of torture and assault do arise, so be advised. However, despite this, the author’s creativity and rich mythology development was both chilling and adrenaline-fueled, keeping the reader invested in the morality balance that protagonist Samara had to undergo. The evolution of her character and the discovery of her own power make for a truly engaging read.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy horror novels, especially those that enjoy occult horror and elements of fantasy world-building storytelling. The haunting atmosphere and tensions the author was able to infuse into this story did a great job of producing both action and spine-chilling interactions, as well as equally haunting character growth and development that kept the story flowing smoothly.
Thrilling, captivating, and brilliantly written, author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For A Queen is a must-read occult horror novel and the perfect next book in this growing series. The balance of horror scares and diverse character growth really elevated this growing conflict in the series to all new heights, and the introduction to equally disturbed villains like the Black Dragon was something that will keep readers hanging off of the author’s every word."
-- Alyssa Avina, Pacific Book Review
Requiem For A Queen
In author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For a Queen, the author explores this question through the story of Samara and her son Papi. The third book in the hell-bending series Gehenna, the author shares the story of Samara, one of the Nephilim who has recently escaped from a nightmarish experience as a prisoner and then wife to Lucifer in Hell. However, as she prepares to give birth to his son, she must contend not only with her newfound motherhood, but a brewing war between the forces of heaven and hell. As Lucifer’s daughter fights to regain control of the throne of hell, Samara must escape one hellish nightmare after another, all while trying to protect her son and find a means of making sure he doesn’t become the menacing evil his father is.
The author continues her long-running experience as a horror writer to bring the balance of occultism and fantasy-driven world-building which this series has become known for. One thing of note to readers is that this is definitely a mature series, and there are some trigger warnings of abuse and sexual assault that need to be addressed for future readers who may be new to this series. As there are significant sections of story that delve into the mythos of hell and demons, instances of torture and assault do arise, so be advised. However, despite this, the author’s creativity and rich mythology development was both chilling and adrenaline-fueled, keeping the reader invested in the morality balance that protagonist Samara had to undergo. The evolution of her character and the discovery of her own power make for a truly engaging read.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy horror novels, especially those that enjoy occult horror and elements of fantasy world-building storytelling. The haunting atmosphere and tensions the author was able to infuse into this story did a great job of producing both action and spine-chilling interactions, as well as equally haunting character growth and development that kept the story flowing smoothly.
Thrilling, captivating, and brilliantly written, author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For A Queen is a must-read occult horror novel and the perfect next book in this growing series. The balance of horror scares and diverse character growth really elevated this growing conflict in the series to all new heights, and the introduction to equally disturbed villains like the Black Dragon was something that will keep readers hanging off of the author’s every word."
-- Alyssa Avina, Pacific Book Review
Requiem For A Queen
