I just finished reading fateborn by Deborah Tamber last night and I intended to give it a “just finished” review but unfortunately I couldn’t due to being rendered speechless. It’s a fantasy/adventure/thriller story from the perspective of the three main characters Robyn, Eve and Rhea.
What stood out for me most was the pacing, the rich lore and attention to minute details that bridge the divide between literary and relatability, Deborah’s ability to encapsulate the humanity of the characters in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there is a rare but beautiful thing.
This book (as the first in the trilogy) has a little something for everyone;
Robyn is an endearingly stubborn but kind hearted man, disillusioned by betrayal and the failure of a corrupt system, he fears his own destiny and the power within him and allows this to stand as an obstacle between him and his true potential (and if you aren’t rooting for him; you can’t be my friend).
Eve is an avid fighter who grew up in the woods (literally in treehouses) with a race of woodland folks, she is in love with one of them but has spent her time somewhere in between “accepted” and “ostracised” due to being different.
Rhea is a young hermit who bears the resemblance of a white witch and scavenges/does odd jobs for the occupants of the slums outside a fortress in the desert and due to her good nature happens to rescue someone who repays her kindness in ways even he couldn’t comprehend.
It’s a story about fate and my goodness does it hit the mark, it feels like watching 3 video feeds one after the other but although some parts may seem trivial, not a word is wasted and all points converge in a way that satisfies the soul.
I was once (like many of us in our 30s) an avid and obsessive reader but life got in the way, this book has single-handedly reignited my love and passion for literature and more importantly fantasy.
Who is this for? I’d say it’s for fans of Tolkien, Garth nix, eoin colfer, George R R (is that enough “R”s?) Martin, Harry Potter or for any other now matured ex fans of young adult fantasy or fiction in general.