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Everburn
The city of Arkis stands on the precipice of rebirth and destruction along with all of Lencia. Its greatest hope for survival is Ponce, a city architect, inventor, and unfettered young man whose soul is in constant search of greater possibilities. He has spent his entire life trying to figure out what’s really going on in the world, and when the is city mysteriously attacked and the path leads directly to the mysterious tree burning perpetually at its center, Ponce is pushed to the limit—and he escapes.
Ponce is thrust into the center of an ancient wager between the same cosmic leaders—Sotare and Perfidious, good versus evil—who hold Lencia’s future in their hands. Through redemption and love, Sotare uses Ponce to try and heal a broken world while Perfidious uses him to destroy it. The love of a woman sent to tempt Ponce will determine the victor and restore—or destroy—Everburn.
More C.S. Lewis than J.R.R. Tolkien, Bunch’s debut is a sweeping epic that strips bare the dangers of conformity and reminds us all that great things can be accomplished with nothing more than devoted friends and unflagging perseverance. His multi-layered allegory has a mythological complexity rarely seen in the fantasy genre, looking far beyond the physical world to expose universal, underlying truths as razor sharp dialogue and well-developed characters drive this rich, detailed world toward its ultimate date with destiny. A riveting journey full of danger, intrigue, and almost unbearable tension, Everburn signals the arrival of an important new voice in the world of fantasy.
Ponce is thrust into the center of an ancient wager between the same cosmic leaders—Sotare and Perfidious, good versus evil—who hold Lencia’s future in their hands. Through redemption and love, Sotare uses Ponce to try and heal a broken world while Perfidious uses him to destroy it. The love of a woman sent to tempt Ponce will determine the victor and restore—or destroy—Everburn.
More C.S. Lewis than J.R.R. Tolkien, Bunch’s debut is a sweeping epic that strips bare the dangers of conformity and reminds us all that great things can be accomplished with nothing more than devoted friends and unflagging perseverance. His multi-layered allegory has a mythological complexity rarely seen in the fantasy genre, looking far beyond the physical world to expose universal, underlying truths as razor sharp dialogue and well-developed characters drive this rich, detailed world toward its ultimate date with destiny. A riveting journey full of danger, intrigue, and almost unbearable tension, Everburn signals the arrival of an important new voice in the world of fantasy.
515 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 31, 2024
"I heard him speak in the old language before he attacked the apparition. What did he say?" "Da mihi lucem dominus meus. It means Give me light, my lord. "
A great honor to share the mind of a true friend.
A great honor to share the mind of a true friend.
July 4, 2023
Great book, great storytelling, phenomenal author.
“Whatever was willing the storm against them was outdone by whatever was willing them onward.”
“Whatever was willing the storm against them was outdone by whatever was willing them onward.”
October 15, 2015
BEST. BOOK. EVER!
May 20, 2017
This book was an absolute pleasure to read. The combination of relatable characters and a creative setting made it hard to put down.
August 10, 2024
THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER!!
Here are the main things I loved:
- the allegories!
-the characters
-the plot
-the main message/morals of the story.
In essence, all of it.
If you choose not to read the rest of the review, here is what I will say: I hope and hope that this book will become famous some day, because its story needs to be told to the rest of the world.
--
*spoiler alert*
There are too many messages to name, but I personally think that the most important one is redemption. Anyone can be redeemed, but only through the power of the "Sotare" of our world. This is why I love Linus and John Renatus (and Pyra), who are both redeemed, but only through the mighty and merciful works of Sotare.
My favorite chapter is definitely "The Champion's Crawl". I have to admit, I was crying hard through pretty much all of that chapter, and especially so when John Renatus was injured and died.
And Ponce- Ponce's character was incredible.
I liked that while Ponce was a good and incredibly heroic person, he still didn't seem "so good" that he was unreal. He was still weak, he couldn't really fight, and he seemed like a pretty average young man. But his character is revealed throughout the story as pure, strong, caring, and curious (in a good, wisdom-seeking way). He does have flaws, as revealed in his chess game with Sotare, but he is still able to stand strong against Perfidious.
The one negative thing I will say about this book is that the first two to three chapters start out slow. VERY slow. And mildly confusing. But work through them, and you will be rewarded with an amazing story!
I wish that Bunch would've continued with the series. I was so incredibly sad to know that there was no second book, especially on that cliffhanger he left us on.
Please go read it!!
Here are the main things I loved:
- the allegories!
-the characters
-the plot
-the main message/morals of the story.
In essence, all of it.
If you choose not to read the rest of the review, here is what I will say: I hope and hope that this book will become famous some day, because its story needs to be told to the rest of the world.
--
*spoiler alert*
There are too many messages to name, but I personally think that the most important one is redemption. Anyone can be redeemed, but only through the power of the "Sotare" of our world. This is why I love Linus and John Renatus (and Pyra), who are both redeemed, but only through the mighty and merciful works of Sotare.
My favorite chapter is definitely "The Champion's Crawl". I have to admit, I was crying hard through pretty much all of that chapter, and especially so when John Renatus was injured and died.
And Ponce- Ponce's character was incredible.
I liked that while Ponce was a good and incredibly heroic person, he still didn't seem "so good" that he was unreal. He was still weak, he couldn't really fight, and he seemed like a pretty average young man. But his character is revealed throughout the story as pure, strong, caring, and curious (in a good, wisdom-seeking way). He does have flaws, as revealed in his chess game with Sotare, but he is still able to stand strong against Perfidious.
The one negative thing I will say about this book is that the first two to three chapters start out slow. VERY slow. And mildly confusing. But work through them, and you will be rewarded with an amazing story!
I wish that Bunch would've continued with the series. I was so incredibly sad to know that there was no second book, especially on that cliffhanger he left us on.
Please go read it!!
February 18, 2012
Reads like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and, for religious scaffolding, Chronicles of Narnia. At times I felt as fustrated as the main character Ponce in the direction of the adventure, but it was all worth it in the end.
January 7, 2013
This was a fun fantasy read about good and evil. Ponce leaves his small village and begins a quest to save the world. Some elements feel like Alice in wonderland.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews