This book is different from most fantasy novels I’ve ever read. The protagonist sets foot in a fantasy world as through a dream, where every character represents a certain idea or emotion, and is led through a journey of self discovery. The main character, Lily, starts off as a troubled teenager and as the book goes on, she evolves with the help of the numerous characters of the book.
The book focuses more on understanding life and reality, rather than identifying a good and an evil; it focuses on accepting every aspect of life rather that battling with the things we don’t like or understand.
Every character has a meaning and the elements of the book are highly spiritual. What I love the most about the book are the descriptions and world building: a world of mermaids and crystals, of rituals and queens that rule different sides of this enchanted realm, ruling by their own convictions. Every character represents an aspect of life or emotion that you should go through and experience in your journey to self discovery, starting with the most sincere kindness and ending with the most unpleasant grief. It teaches us that we must embrace every emotion, that we are able of doing as much as we can imagine only if we ever dare to dream. We are able to make ourselves rise or fall depending on what we are more attracted to.
The book teaches us that there is good in the world and always a hand we can reach to when in need and that sometimes the bad things must be embraced and taken as they are, for we cannot change the course of destiny or fate, we cannot interfere and try to stop something that is meant to happen. Every journey has a destination, every encounter a lesson to be learned. A life does not end in vain, every bit of existing energy is used, restored and recycled, never dead or gone.
I was really surprised by this book. Although it challenges you to rethink your understanding of life and parameters of reality, it is incredibly easy to read. The actions are fluid, the characters are easy to love and get to know. The descriptions, once again, are the best part of the book, every setting and character being described individually.