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The Leyumin Divided Saga #1
Mother of Rebellion
The breaking was only the beginning...
Rebellion brews as nations struggle for power. Survival is pitted against compassion, duty against faith, and loyalties against love.
Rebellion brews as nations struggle for power. Survival is pitted against compassion, duty against faith, and loyalties against love.
The Schism, a war that raged a thousand years ago, left the continent of Leyumin broken. Near constant war and destruction define the millennium afterward, but the heavens have promised reunifcation and with it peace. Now, two nations vie for dominance and the title of Unitor. One does so through politics and manipulation, the other through brute force and self-proclaimed pure blood.
Five unlikely people will shape the things to come: a slave-wife, a warrior, a guardian of history, a disciple, and a young nobleman. As they embark upon their journeys, their decisions sow the beginnings of change, and the consequences they reap prove to be more than they're prepared to handle.
Meanwhile, all wait in anticipation for the Unitor to emerge as the future looms uncertain.
"Mother of Rebellion is a wonderfully gripping and thoughtful tale in a colorful world filled with action, intrigue, and heart. I loved reading every page."
"This book was wonderful, by far one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read! If I had the second one right now, I'd be diving in and reading all night! I am in love with the characters and so immersed in this amazing world."
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
648 pages, ebook
First published December 11, 2018
16 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 15, 2020
This story really drew me in at the beginning. The characters are lovely and you really get to know them. You even get to see them develop and grow, which is huge. Each character definitely developed themselves over the course of the book, and you could definitely see how the events of the book really changed them.
I'm definitely a reader who reads mostly for the character development and I love to read different personalities that the author has dreamed up. However unfortunately for this book it just wasn't enough for me. I don't really know much background of Leyumin. I kept having to reference the map and the calendar because it wasn't built in the narrative, it was just given as a map. I'm not entirely sure why it is called Mother of Rebellion besides that each character is sowing seeds of rebellion? Are they all mothers of rebellion??? I still don't really know how the characters connect with each other despite the fact that they're in the same continent and a little rebellious in nature.
I honestly think I would have enjoyed this story so much more if each character had their own entire book. Especially since they literally have not interacted with each other yet at all. The characters are truly well developed and likeable, but they were just way too separate. If they were all separate books it would allow room to discuss background, and I wouldn't have waited around the entire book to see how they connect... to no avail.
At five main characters, and about 650 pages, each character realistically only got a little more than 100 pages. It's no wonder there isn't too much background on Leyumin. I had to reread the summary in the middle of the book just to remember where we were headed.
I was sad to find not too many fantastical elements in this High Fantasy tale either. There were Oracles, monsters (that we see... not incredibly often), and a story of a dragon. At some points, it almost seemed like it was being called High Fantasy only because it was set in a continent akin to Medieval England and there were slave wives and slave children.
I can truly tell Boes is setting up for a much larger story, and I really liked all the characters. It just felt like the entire book was an intoduction, with no super clear objective. Not an incredible amount of events could happen for each of the characters. I was initially so drawn in, but I lost the spark midway through the book. I definitely think there is potential here for a cool story, I just don't entirely know what that is. I did truly appreciate a long book that was written in such a simple and understandable writing style. It really does help the reader slip easily into the story without thinking too much about the words.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm definitely a reader who reads mostly for the character development and I love to read different personalities that the author has dreamed up. However unfortunately for this book it just wasn't enough for me. I don't really know much background of Leyumin. I kept having to reference the map and the calendar because it wasn't built in the narrative, it was just given as a map. I'm not entirely sure why it is called Mother of Rebellion besides that each character is sowing seeds of rebellion? Are they all mothers of rebellion??? I still don't really know how the characters connect with each other despite the fact that they're in the same continent and a little rebellious in nature.
I honestly think I would have enjoyed this story so much more if each character had their own entire book. Especially since they literally have not interacted with each other yet at all. The characters are truly well developed and likeable, but they were just way too separate. If they were all separate books it would allow room to discuss background, and I wouldn't have waited around the entire book to see how they connect... to no avail.
At five main characters, and about 650 pages, each character realistically only got a little more than 100 pages. It's no wonder there isn't too much background on Leyumin. I had to reread the summary in the middle of the book just to remember where we were headed.
I was sad to find not too many fantastical elements in this High Fantasy tale either. There were Oracles, monsters (that we see... not incredibly often), and a story of a dragon. At some points, it almost seemed like it was being called High Fantasy only because it was set in a continent akin to Medieval England and there were slave wives and slave children.
I can truly tell Boes is setting up for a much larger story, and I really liked all the characters. It just felt like the entire book was an intoduction, with no super clear objective. Not an incredible amount of events could happen for each of the characters. I was initially so drawn in, but I lost the spark midway through the book. I definitely think there is potential here for a cool story, I just don't entirely know what that is. I did truly appreciate a long book that was written in such a simple and understandable writing style. It really does help the reader slip easily into the story without thinking too much about the words.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 4, 2019
~ I was given copy of this title by the author in exchange for an honest review, I'm not associated with the author or publisher in any way and the views expressed are completely unbiased and entirely my own. ~
'Mother of Rebellion' is the first book in the Leyumin Divided Saga written by B.K. Boes. It's an epic fantasy told from the perspective of five characters, each from a different part of the continent of Leyumin, which has been at war for a millennia. Each will have a role to play in Leyumins unification as their individual paths and the decisions that they make sow the seeds of change.
I absolutely love epic fantasy with multiple POV's so this was right up my alley. When done correctly it should keep you turning the pages as you become absorbed in each person's story, not wanting to move on to the next one, and when you do, that one sucks you in just the same way - before you know it 'one more chapter' has turned into half of the book, as was the case here.
The only reason I would rate 4* rather than 5* is because I would have liked a little extra in terms of the background history of the continent of Leyumin. I appreciate that the text wasn't bogged down in dry details and that the political nature of the story is very human, but while I understood each individual character and their motivation, I felt like I was missing a bit of understanding of the scope of the world that they are living in.
In saying that, what the author has achieved here is an epic fantasy that actually feels very intimate and personal due to the themes that are explored.
I would also have liked to have seen more of a link between the five characters, although I'm hopeful that this is to come in further installments, which I'm looking forward to - I particularly have a soft spot for the character Jabin and I really want to know what happens to him! ❤
~ Thanks to B.K. Boes and Beyond Here Publishing for the opportunity to review this title ~
'Mother of Rebellion' is the first book in the Leyumin Divided Saga written by B.K. Boes. It's an epic fantasy told from the perspective of five characters, each from a different part of the continent of Leyumin, which has been at war for a millennia. Each will have a role to play in Leyumins unification as their individual paths and the decisions that they make sow the seeds of change.
I absolutely love epic fantasy with multiple POV's so this was right up my alley. When done correctly it should keep you turning the pages as you become absorbed in each person's story, not wanting to move on to the next one, and when you do, that one sucks you in just the same way - before you know it 'one more chapter' has turned into half of the book, as was the case here.
The only reason I would rate 4* rather than 5* is because I would have liked a little extra in terms of the background history of the continent of Leyumin. I appreciate that the text wasn't bogged down in dry details and that the political nature of the story is very human, but while I understood each individual character and their motivation, I felt like I was missing a bit of understanding of the scope of the world that they are living in.
In saying that, what the author has achieved here is an epic fantasy that actually feels very intimate and personal due to the themes that are explored.
I would also have liked to have seen more of a link between the five characters, although I'm hopeful that this is to come in further installments, which I'm looking forward to - I particularly have a soft spot for the character Jabin and I really want to know what happens to him! ❤
~ Thanks to B.K. Boes and Beyond Here Publishing for the opportunity to review this title ~
September 20, 2024
This is a really fantastic story! Boes does an amazing job of developing each character and keeps you wanting more of them. I love books with alternating POV’s and I’m a huge fan of Epic Fantasy books. This author delivered! I lived in this story and really can’t wait to experience the next one!
May 22, 2021
Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a honest review.
I cant even put into words how much I loved this book. The world building is fantastic. The story is shown from different points of view but the characters are so well written and distinct that it doesn't become confusing. I was so invested in their individual stories the whole way through the book and I laughed and cried and hoped along with them.
The book has a great pace and lots of action and intrigue to keep your attention the whole time.
I think I liked Anakai's story the best because it was interesting to see how the warriors that the others see as the enemy are made into what they are and how they are just young boys/men trying to survive and the brotherhood that comes about between them.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing where the story leads and how the characters keep developing
I cant even put into words how much I loved this book. The world building is fantastic. The story is shown from different points of view but the characters are so well written and distinct that it doesn't become confusing. I was so invested in their individual stories the whole way through the book and I laughed and cried and hoped along with them.
The book has a great pace and lots of action and intrigue to keep your attention the whole time.
I think I liked Anakai's story the best because it was interesting to see how the warriors that the others see as the enemy are made into what they are and how they are just young boys/men trying to survive and the brotherhood that comes about between them.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing where the story leads and how the characters keep developing
January 17, 2019
In a world of mediocre epic fantasy novels, this book is a delightful surprise. It grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and keeps you reading until the end. I'm looking forward to the next book!
August 22, 2022
Review for “Mother of Rebellion” by B. K. Boes
It’s the first book from the “The Leyumin Divided Saga” series written by B. K. Boes. The story focuses on five characters’ journey to complete the mission to reunite the nations of Leyumin after they were separated during a war that raged thousands of years ago.
The author attracts the readers with her unique style that is easier to understand. The world she created is a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, Christian fantasy and historical fiction. The readers will travel to different lands, be witness to various events and feel the characters’ emotions. The detailed descriptions throughout the novel reminds us of Victor Hugo’s style and Stendhal’s quote from his famous psychological novel “The Red and the Black”, “A novel is a mirror walking along the main road.”1 There is a Dickensian touch too since there are scenes that depict the lifestyle of the three social classes, poverty and the high society’s mistreatment of the lower classes.
Slavery, racism, toxic parents, the dysfunctional family (e.g. the Sarrem family), sibling rivalry (e.g. Waen wants Moloch to make a fool of himself during the duel in front of everyone in chapter nine), despair, suicidal thoughts, discrimination, abuse, the absent father, cruelty, indoctrination, dictatorship, prisoners of war, misinformation, propaganda, corruption, hostility between religions, sexism, coping with sadness and loss, grief, childhood trauma (e.g. Adikeans send slave-sons to the canyons to be groomed into heartless warriors), overcoming guilt, elitism, gaslighting, dangers of imperialism (e.g. the Adikeans want to conquer the other nations and rule them with an iron fist), preserving culture (e.g. Kaela tries to preserve the culture of her tribe by telling the true story of Yaan to her peers instead of accepting Roshleth Vyad’s manipulation of it), the hard life children of parents from different nationalities live (e.g. Mae) are some of the serious issues tackled in the book.
Jabin, Kaela, Moloch, Anakai and a few other characters go through the rite of passage while Imrah evolves from an obedient slave into a rebel. Anakai is similar to Anakin and Luke Skywalker from the „Star Wars” series since the three characters go through intesive training to survive and become warriors. Kaela’s parents are the image of the responsible loving parents because they understand their daughter and support her. They resemble Mr. and Mrs. Weasley from the „Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling.
Sava, Ednah and Lapuro are strong women despite their old age, who share their wisdom with their relatives and those they consider worthy. Bram is the voice of reason. His undeying loyalty, understanding and supportive attitude helps Moloch overcome his insecurities in moments of doubt and hoplessness. Like Jabin and Kaela, we will learn to accept ourselves and do things our way like Moloch.
The novel can be considered a reflection on the consequences of the Great Schism and the Division of Berlin at the end of the Second World War because the characters’ difficult lives are a result of the corrupted system in their homelands.
The twin brothers of the Sarrem Family’s situation with their parents are similar to Prince John and Richard the Lionheart’s because the latter was his mother’s favorite child while his brother was in their father’s good graces.
Prince Durand’s sickness caused by the poisoned soup he received from his cousin and the cook is similar to Napoleon Bonaparte’s case in which it is believed that he got stomach ulcer through deliberate arsenic poisoning that caused potassium tartrate.
There are a few similarities with other literary works such as: Frank Herbert’s the “Dune Saga” series, Allison D. Reid’s the “Wind Rider Chronicles” series, Richard H. Stephens’ the “Soul Forge Saga” and “Legends of the Lurker” series, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian’s the “Tara Duncan” series, crime novels, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo, the Legend of Robin Hood; animated series and movies like: “Avatar the Last Airbender” and the “Star Wars” series.
Moloch playing a game of Avarice with Prince Zuria, King Shamylle, Waen and Nibal (the twins’ father) in chapter twenty-one is similar to Miranda playing chess with Ferdinand in Act 5, Scene 1 from William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”.
Different virtues, traits and sins are represented through various characters as it follows: Prestis Bakmann – kindness, hope, patience; Master Dakkan – cruelty, lust, greed; Bram – loyalty, friendship; Mae – stubbornness, recklessness, determination; Junia – perseverance, genuine love, understanding; the Adikean Emperor – thirst for power, materialism, idolatry; Oracle Lan – faith, patience; Reddin – pride, envy, wrath; Lord Rutis Tovan of Pytar – good sportsmanship; Princess Naova Gonnoss – the stereotypical princess: naïve, polite, well-bred; the elderly - wise experienced parental figures and keepers of knowledge/ history etc.
Inner strength is one of the most powerful weapons against fear as Anakai remembers his mother’s advise in chapter three: “Strength comes from within, from the heart, by using the mind the Sustainer bestowed upon you. Strength of the body is fading. Inner strength only gets stronger.” We all have moments when intrusive thoughts raise doubts about the decisions we make, plunging us into despair and causing us to give up in the end. But if we manage to control our emotions, we will continue to perform the task and be happy to know that everything was worth the risk in time. Examples are Imrah and Moloch, who have to learn to take things one step at a time and that even the smallest things count.
Storytelling is represented as a way to teach the future generations about moral values and maintain the country’s history and identity as seen in the tribes of Erem. An example is the true version of “Yaan, the Dragon Egg and the Bag of Gold” told by Kaela to Elder Ednah that teaches us how greed causes a man to loose the most precious treasure he has, his family and that money can’t buy happiness.
The library is seen as the temple of knowledge while the garden is a place where we can be closer to nature and the Holy Father (the Sustainer in the book). There we can clear our mind of negative thoughts and reflect upon things, managing to come up with a solution to our problems in the end. It is also a place where people spend time with their families as seen in the scene in which Imrah spends her time with Anakai before sending him to the canyons to train to become an Adikean warrior.
Observant readers will notice that certain areas in the novel remind them about places from the real world and mythology: The City of Eunoya - Ephyra from the Greek myth of Sisyphus since both cities get their water from either a river or a spring; Paris during Napoleon’s reign, cities of Ancient Rome and Greece in terms of architecture and aspect; The Kelda Canyons - Death Valley National Park, USA; The Mavyem Valley - the Danakil Desert, Ethiopia.
The tribes are the keepers of history, customs and traditions in the author’s eyes. One of the tribes of Erem, the Hodda resembles the Native Americans and tribes in Africa. Its peaceful nomadic life reminds us of the Air Nomads from the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series.
As we journey through Mrs. Boes’ world, we are kindly reminded of the importance of genuine faith and its role in our life. Jabin accepting to both meet his father’s expectations and follow his mother’s advice to follow the spiritual path represents balance as well as the saints that devoted themselves to God. The Valley of Elypkos is similar to the Garden of Eden from the Old Testament from the Bible while the Festival of Pardons resembles the Easter Holiday celebrated by the Romans before the Crucifixion of Jesus. The wisdom tree in chapter twenty-seven is like the willow and palm trees that are sacred to Christians.
The five main characters teach us about plucking up the courage to do the impossible. While it is okay to be confident, we always have to be ready for anything because life is a tough teacher. Our destiny is shaped by the decisions we make throughout our lives. An example is when we decide between learning from our mistakes and letting them strengthen us, and refusing to admit them and giving up on our goals.
Other important lessons that we learn from this book are: love, compassion, friendship, self-discipline, respect towards others regardless of their race, gender and social class, equality, follow your destiny, appearances can be deceiving, nothing is what it seems, kindness, maternal instinct, determination, dare to tell your problems to a trustworthy person and ask for help from time to time, choose your friends wisely, forgiveness, sacrifice, it’s better to accept the harsh truth than live a lie, diligence, we learn through our entire lives, never fall for false promises, listen to your heart, do things your way instead of trying to please others, sometimes we have to see things through someone else’s eyes and take a look at the big picture, show gratitude to others, evil comes right back at the one that planned it as seen in chapter fifty-one, instinct, learn to trust others sometimes, someone’s noble deed can inspire others to do the same causing a chain reaction, be careful whom you trust, accept responsibilities, take others’ suggestions into consideration sometimes, keep our focus on the task at hand, resist distractions, our deeds will earn others’ respect, in some situations we have no choice but to be cunning and forge a convincing story to succeed in what we are doing like in Moloch’s case in chapter fifty-eight etc.
In chapter sixty, the writer shows the readers the results of recklessness, how some crimes are hidden due to corruption and how faith help us when we least expect it. Despite the hardships and Abner forbidding their friendship, Jabin and Mae decide to be friends in secret and work on ways to fight against the corrupted system.
Survival, inner strength vs. physical strength, spirituality vs. materialism, prophetic dreams coming true, political matters, competition, courtship, making a good impresion, following your destiny, physical world versus spiritual world, body versus soul, balance between body, mind and spirit, true love, feelings, the desire for a peaceful world where men live in harmony with nature (Junia and Moloch’s wish), love at first sight (between Moloch and Junia), arranged marriage vs. happy marriage, making friends, family feuds, hate, holding grudges, proving your worth, trying to repair the damages of the past, real versus false hope, recovering from shock after finding out about the dark truth, getting used to a new life, having role models, being put to the test, practical ideas, religion versus science, creativity versus logic, different interpretations of prophecies, the desire to live a simple life, interpretation of things, religious faith (Oracle Lan, the Eikonians) versus active faith (Mae, the Sozian from her mother’s side (Sozo)), overlooking details/ things in Roshleth Vyad and the Patriarch’s case, real heroes vs. fake heroes as seen in chapter fifty-one, unfair punishments in chapter fifty-four, keeping promises are some of the themes discussed throughout the novel.
Like in most literary works, there are things with symbolic meanings: three – trinity; four – self-expression, self-fulfillment, maturity, stability of the mind; five – change, motion, adventure, infinity; six – balance, parenthood, sacrifice, responsibility and justice; eight – continuation, repetition, divinity; circle – eternity, unity, infinity, wholeness and the circle of life; crack of dawn – new beginnings, new hope; sunrise – new beginnings; sunset – ending of a day; evening – subtle awareness; green – nature, environment, youth, spring, jealousy, envy, inexperience, growth, harmony, greed; red – energy, love, passion, strength, aggression, danger, war, sincerity; pink – unconditional love, innocence, romance, childish, unrealistic; yellow – joy, imagination, hope, friendship, philosophy, deceit, betrayal, cowardice; gold – wealth, luxury, success and achievement; orange – optimism, emotion, adventure, creativity, impatience; cream – neutral, calm, elegance, purity and relaxing; lavender – tranquility, gentleness, indecision, meditation; brown – earth, stability, health, home, the outdoors, endurance, simplicity, reliability, comfort, honesty, dependence, isolation, sadness; fields – doctrine of faith, both true and false, treasures, the possibilities and opportunities that await us, place of rest and relaxation, hard work, freedom; mountains – constancy, obstacles, firmness, stillness, challenges, strength, closeness to God, escape, freedom, spirituality, the power of nature; rock – wisdom, strength, stability, patience, time; river – life, fertility, freedom, a path, the passage of time; evergreen – immortality and eternal life; cacti – warmth, protection, maternal love; lavender flower – purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace; velvet flowers – admiration, devotion, respect, enduring love, happiness, bliss; purple bell-shaped flowers – royalty, elegance, wealth, success, tradition, affection, constancy, everlasting love; little lizard - good luck, regeneration, blending in with your surroundings, tuning in with your sixth sense, potential challenges, opportunities and dangers; ants – industrial creativity and hard work, prudence, selflessness, paying attention to a message sent to you; scorpion monster – protection, life, death, survival, guardianship, danger, control, defensiveness, power; obsidian – a shield against negativity, healing; iron – obstinacy, fortitude, honor, courage, sharpness of the body and mind, tenacity, confidence in power, rage, primal urges, inner power; gold metal – happiness, peace, stability, wisdom, wealth, royalty, prosperity and bridge – communication and union, ascension, the end of a cycle and the beginning of another, something beyond perception, change, the desire for change and a test of bravery.
The scene when Kaela crested a barren hill after running away from the meeting is a metaphor to her opinions not being counted by the council members due to being a Roshleth-in-training.
Among seriousness, danger, adventure, readers will have a good laugh after „seeing” Roshleth Vyad waking up Orlin’s grandfather, who fell asleep during meditation before the beginning of the meeting in chapter twenty-four.
The ending is purposely left unfinished to leave the readers in suspense. Although the future seems to be uncertain, we can use our imagination to direct the course of events to our advantage.
Together with J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, Laura S. Gotz, Sînziana Popescu, Miruna Ursache, Diana Geacăr, Moony Witcher, Elena Kedros, Rick Riordan, Emily Martha Sorensen, Katie Jenkins, Todd Fahnestock, Eileen Mueller, Richard H. Stephens, S. A. Patrick, Laura Daleo, B. K. Boes, Nicole Zoltack, A. G. Roemmers, Anabel Bright, Sarah K. L. Wilson, Joss Walker and R. L. Perez, Dani Hoots, Alisha Klapheke and many others, B. K. Boes revolutionized literature with her imagination.
I recommend this book to readers 16+ because some scenes are too scary for younger readers.
Recenzie – “Mama Rebeliunii” de B. K. Boes
Este prima carte din seria “Saga Divizarea Leyuminului” de B. K. Boes. Povestea se axează pe călătoria a cinci personaje pentru a termina misiunea de a reuni țările din Leyumin după ce au fost separate în timpul unui război cu mii de ani în urmă.
Autoarea îi atrage pe cititori prin stilul unic care poate fi înțeles ușor. Lumea creată de ea este un amestec de științifico-fantastic, fantasy, fantasy creștin și ficțiune istorică. Cititorii vor călători pe diferite meleaguri, vor fi martori la diverse evenimente și vor simți emoțiile personajelor. Descrierile detaliate de-a lungul romanului ne amintesc de stilul lui Victor Hugo și de citatul din romanul psihologic “Roșu și Negru” de Stendhal: “Romanul este o oglindă purtată de-a lungul unui drum.”2 Există de asemenea și o atingere Dickensiană de vreme ce sunt scene care descriu viața celor trei clase sociale, sărăcia și nedreptatea adusă claselor de jos de către înalta societate.
Sclavia, rasismul, părinții toxici, familia disfuncțională (ex. Familia Sarrem), rivalitatea dintre frați (ex. Waen vrea să-l facă pe Moloch de râs în fața tuturor în capitolul nouă), disperarea, gândurile sinucigașe, discriminarea, abuzul, tatăl absent, cruzimea, îndoctrinarea, dictatura, prizonierii de război, dezinformarea, propaganda, corupția, ostilitatea dintre religii, misoginismul, să facem față tristeței și pierderilor, mâhnirea, trauma din copilărie (ex. În Adikea, fiii mamelor sclave (slave-sons) sunt trimiși în canioane pentru a fi pregătiți să fie războinici haini), depășirea sentimentului de vinovăție, elitismul, trasul pe sfoară, pericolele imperialismului (ex. Adikea vrea să cucerească celelalte țări și să le conducă cu o mână de fier), conservarea culturii (ex. Kaela încearcă să conserve cultura tribului ei spunând adevărata poveste a lui Yaan semenilor ei în loc să accepte versiunea modificată spusă de Matroana (Roshleth) Vyad), viața grea a copiilor cu părinți din țări diferite (ex. Mae) sunt câteva dintre problemele serioase abordate în carte.
Jabin, Kaela, Moloch, Anakai și alte câteva personaje trec prin ritul de trecere în timp ce Imrah evoluează dintr-o sclavă obedientă într-o rebelă. Anakai este similar cu Anakin și Luke Skywalker din seria “Războiul Stelelor” pentru că toți trei trec printr-o serie de antrenamente intensive să supraviețuiască și să devină războinici. Părinții Kaelei sunt întruchiparea părinților iubitori pentru că o înțeleg și o susțin pe fiica lor. Aceștia se aseamănă cu domnul și doamna Weasley din seria “Harry Potter” de J. K. Rowling.
Sava, Ednah și Lapuro sunt femei puternice în ciuda vârstei înaintate care își împărtășesc înțelepciunea cu oamenii pe care îi consideră demni și rudele lor. Bram este vocea rațiunii. Loialitatea eternă, atitudinea lui înțelegătoare și compătimitoare îl ajută pe Moloch să depășească sentimetele de nesiguranță în momente de îndoială și deznădejde. Asemeni lui Jabin și Kaelei vom învăța să ne acceptăm și să facem lucrurile în felul nostru ca Moloch.
Putem să considerăm romanul o reflexie a consecințelor Marei Schisme și a Divizării Berlinului la sfârșitul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial pentru că viața dificilă a personajelor este rezultatul sistemului corupt din țările lor de baștină.
Situația fraților gemeni ai familiei Sarrem cu părinții lor se aseamănă cu cea a Prințului John și a lui Richard Inimă de Leu pentru că ultimul era copilul preferat a
It’s the first book from the “The Leyumin Divided Saga” series written by B. K. Boes. The story focuses on five characters’ journey to complete the mission to reunite the nations of Leyumin after they were separated during a war that raged thousands of years ago.
The author attracts the readers with her unique style that is easier to understand. The world she created is a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, Christian fantasy and historical fiction. The readers will travel to different lands, be witness to various events and feel the characters’ emotions. The detailed descriptions throughout the novel reminds us of Victor Hugo’s style and Stendhal’s quote from his famous psychological novel “The Red and the Black”, “A novel is a mirror walking along the main road.”1 There is a Dickensian touch too since there are scenes that depict the lifestyle of the three social classes, poverty and the high society’s mistreatment of the lower classes.
Slavery, racism, toxic parents, the dysfunctional family (e.g. the Sarrem family), sibling rivalry (e.g. Waen wants Moloch to make a fool of himself during the duel in front of everyone in chapter nine), despair, suicidal thoughts, discrimination, abuse, the absent father, cruelty, indoctrination, dictatorship, prisoners of war, misinformation, propaganda, corruption, hostility between religions, sexism, coping with sadness and loss, grief, childhood trauma (e.g. Adikeans send slave-sons to the canyons to be groomed into heartless warriors), overcoming guilt, elitism, gaslighting, dangers of imperialism (e.g. the Adikeans want to conquer the other nations and rule them with an iron fist), preserving culture (e.g. Kaela tries to preserve the culture of her tribe by telling the true story of Yaan to her peers instead of accepting Roshleth Vyad’s manipulation of it), the hard life children of parents from different nationalities live (e.g. Mae) are some of the serious issues tackled in the book.
Jabin, Kaela, Moloch, Anakai and a few other characters go through the rite of passage while Imrah evolves from an obedient slave into a rebel. Anakai is similar to Anakin and Luke Skywalker from the „Star Wars” series since the three characters go through intesive training to survive and become warriors. Kaela’s parents are the image of the responsible loving parents because they understand their daughter and support her. They resemble Mr. and Mrs. Weasley from the „Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling.
Sava, Ednah and Lapuro are strong women despite their old age, who share their wisdom with their relatives and those they consider worthy. Bram is the voice of reason. His undeying loyalty, understanding and supportive attitude helps Moloch overcome his insecurities in moments of doubt and hoplessness. Like Jabin and Kaela, we will learn to accept ourselves and do things our way like Moloch.
The novel can be considered a reflection on the consequences of the Great Schism and the Division of Berlin at the end of the Second World War because the characters’ difficult lives are a result of the corrupted system in their homelands.
The twin brothers of the Sarrem Family’s situation with their parents are similar to Prince John and Richard the Lionheart’s because the latter was his mother’s favorite child while his brother was in their father’s good graces.
Prince Durand’s sickness caused by the poisoned soup he received from his cousin and the cook is similar to Napoleon Bonaparte’s case in which it is believed that he got stomach ulcer through deliberate arsenic poisoning that caused potassium tartrate.
There are a few similarities with other literary works such as: Frank Herbert’s the “Dune Saga” series, Allison D. Reid’s the “Wind Rider Chronicles” series, Richard H. Stephens’ the “Soul Forge Saga” and “Legends of the Lurker” series, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian’s the “Tara Duncan” series, crime novels, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo, the Legend of Robin Hood; animated series and movies like: “Avatar the Last Airbender” and the “Star Wars” series.
Moloch playing a game of Avarice with Prince Zuria, King Shamylle, Waen and Nibal (the twins’ father) in chapter twenty-one is similar to Miranda playing chess with Ferdinand in Act 5, Scene 1 from William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”.
Different virtues, traits and sins are represented through various characters as it follows: Prestis Bakmann – kindness, hope, patience; Master Dakkan – cruelty, lust, greed; Bram – loyalty, friendship; Mae – stubbornness, recklessness, determination; Junia – perseverance, genuine love, understanding; the Adikean Emperor – thirst for power, materialism, idolatry; Oracle Lan – faith, patience; Reddin – pride, envy, wrath; Lord Rutis Tovan of Pytar – good sportsmanship; Princess Naova Gonnoss – the stereotypical princess: naïve, polite, well-bred; the elderly - wise experienced parental figures and keepers of knowledge/ history etc.
Inner strength is one of the most powerful weapons against fear as Anakai remembers his mother’s advise in chapter three: “Strength comes from within, from the heart, by using the mind the Sustainer bestowed upon you. Strength of the body is fading. Inner strength only gets stronger.” We all have moments when intrusive thoughts raise doubts about the decisions we make, plunging us into despair and causing us to give up in the end. But if we manage to control our emotions, we will continue to perform the task and be happy to know that everything was worth the risk in time. Examples are Imrah and Moloch, who have to learn to take things one step at a time and that even the smallest things count.
Storytelling is represented as a way to teach the future generations about moral values and maintain the country’s history and identity as seen in the tribes of Erem. An example is the true version of “Yaan, the Dragon Egg and the Bag of Gold” told by Kaela to Elder Ednah that teaches us how greed causes a man to loose the most precious treasure he has, his family and that money can’t buy happiness.
The library is seen as the temple of knowledge while the garden is a place where we can be closer to nature and the Holy Father (the Sustainer in the book). There we can clear our mind of negative thoughts and reflect upon things, managing to come up with a solution to our problems in the end. It is also a place where people spend time with their families as seen in the scene in which Imrah spends her time with Anakai before sending him to the canyons to train to become an Adikean warrior.
Observant readers will notice that certain areas in the novel remind them about places from the real world and mythology: The City of Eunoya - Ephyra from the Greek myth of Sisyphus since both cities get their water from either a river or a spring; Paris during Napoleon’s reign, cities of Ancient Rome and Greece in terms of architecture and aspect; The Kelda Canyons - Death Valley National Park, USA; The Mavyem Valley - the Danakil Desert, Ethiopia.
The tribes are the keepers of history, customs and traditions in the author’s eyes. One of the tribes of Erem, the Hodda resembles the Native Americans and tribes in Africa. Its peaceful nomadic life reminds us of the Air Nomads from the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series.
As we journey through Mrs. Boes’ world, we are kindly reminded of the importance of genuine faith and its role in our life. Jabin accepting to both meet his father’s expectations and follow his mother’s advice to follow the spiritual path represents balance as well as the saints that devoted themselves to God. The Valley of Elypkos is similar to the Garden of Eden from the Old Testament from the Bible while the Festival of Pardons resembles the Easter Holiday celebrated by the Romans before the Crucifixion of Jesus. The wisdom tree in chapter twenty-seven is like the willow and palm trees that are sacred to Christians.
The five main characters teach us about plucking up the courage to do the impossible. While it is okay to be confident, we always have to be ready for anything because life is a tough teacher. Our destiny is shaped by the decisions we make throughout our lives. An example is when we decide between learning from our mistakes and letting them strengthen us, and refusing to admit them and giving up on our goals.
Other important lessons that we learn from this book are: love, compassion, friendship, self-discipline, respect towards others regardless of their race, gender and social class, equality, follow your destiny, appearances can be deceiving, nothing is what it seems, kindness, maternal instinct, determination, dare to tell your problems to a trustworthy person and ask for help from time to time, choose your friends wisely, forgiveness, sacrifice, it’s better to accept the harsh truth than live a lie, diligence, we learn through our entire lives, never fall for false promises, listen to your heart, do things your way instead of trying to please others, sometimes we have to see things through someone else’s eyes and take a look at the big picture, show gratitude to others, evil comes right back at the one that planned it as seen in chapter fifty-one, instinct, learn to trust others sometimes, someone’s noble deed can inspire others to do the same causing a chain reaction, be careful whom you trust, accept responsibilities, take others’ suggestions into consideration sometimes, keep our focus on the task at hand, resist distractions, our deeds will earn others’ respect, in some situations we have no choice but to be cunning and forge a convincing story to succeed in what we are doing like in Moloch’s case in chapter fifty-eight etc.
In chapter sixty, the writer shows the readers the results of recklessness, how some crimes are hidden due to corruption and how faith help us when we least expect it. Despite the hardships and Abner forbidding their friendship, Jabin and Mae decide to be friends in secret and work on ways to fight against the corrupted system.
Survival, inner strength vs. physical strength, spirituality vs. materialism, prophetic dreams coming true, political matters, competition, courtship, making a good impresion, following your destiny, physical world versus spiritual world, body versus soul, balance between body, mind and spirit, true love, feelings, the desire for a peaceful world where men live in harmony with nature (Junia and Moloch’s wish), love at first sight (between Moloch and Junia), arranged marriage vs. happy marriage, making friends, family feuds, hate, holding grudges, proving your worth, trying to repair the damages of the past, real versus false hope, recovering from shock after finding out about the dark truth, getting used to a new life, having role models, being put to the test, practical ideas, religion versus science, creativity versus logic, different interpretations of prophecies, the desire to live a simple life, interpretation of things, religious faith (Oracle Lan, the Eikonians) versus active faith (Mae, the Sozian from her mother’s side (Sozo)), overlooking details/ things in Roshleth Vyad and the Patriarch’s case, real heroes vs. fake heroes as seen in chapter fifty-one, unfair punishments in chapter fifty-four, keeping promises are some of the themes discussed throughout the novel.
Like in most literary works, there are things with symbolic meanings: three – trinity; four – self-expression, self-fulfillment, maturity, stability of the mind; five – change, motion, adventure, infinity; six – balance, parenthood, sacrifice, responsibility and justice; eight – continuation, repetition, divinity; circle – eternity, unity, infinity, wholeness and the circle of life; crack of dawn – new beginnings, new hope; sunrise – new beginnings; sunset – ending of a day; evening – subtle awareness; green – nature, environment, youth, spring, jealousy, envy, inexperience, growth, harmony, greed; red – energy, love, passion, strength, aggression, danger, war, sincerity; pink – unconditional love, innocence, romance, childish, unrealistic; yellow – joy, imagination, hope, friendship, philosophy, deceit, betrayal, cowardice; gold – wealth, luxury, success and achievement; orange – optimism, emotion, adventure, creativity, impatience; cream – neutral, calm, elegance, purity and relaxing; lavender – tranquility, gentleness, indecision, meditation; brown – earth, stability, health, home, the outdoors, endurance, simplicity, reliability, comfort, honesty, dependence, isolation, sadness; fields – doctrine of faith, both true and false, treasures, the possibilities and opportunities that await us, place of rest and relaxation, hard work, freedom; mountains – constancy, obstacles, firmness, stillness, challenges, strength, closeness to God, escape, freedom, spirituality, the power of nature; rock – wisdom, strength, stability, patience, time; river – life, fertility, freedom, a path, the passage of time; evergreen – immortality and eternal life; cacti – warmth, protection, maternal love; lavender flower – purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace; velvet flowers – admiration, devotion, respect, enduring love, happiness, bliss; purple bell-shaped flowers – royalty, elegance, wealth, success, tradition, affection, constancy, everlasting love; little lizard - good luck, regeneration, blending in with your surroundings, tuning in with your sixth sense, potential challenges, opportunities and dangers; ants – industrial creativity and hard work, prudence, selflessness, paying attention to a message sent to you; scorpion monster – protection, life, death, survival, guardianship, danger, control, defensiveness, power; obsidian – a shield against negativity, healing; iron – obstinacy, fortitude, honor, courage, sharpness of the body and mind, tenacity, confidence in power, rage, primal urges, inner power; gold metal – happiness, peace, stability, wisdom, wealth, royalty, prosperity and bridge – communication and union, ascension, the end of a cycle and the beginning of another, something beyond perception, change, the desire for change and a test of bravery.
The scene when Kaela crested a barren hill after running away from the meeting is a metaphor to her opinions not being counted by the council members due to being a Roshleth-in-training.
Among seriousness, danger, adventure, readers will have a good laugh after „seeing” Roshleth Vyad waking up Orlin’s grandfather, who fell asleep during meditation before the beginning of the meeting in chapter twenty-four.
The ending is purposely left unfinished to leave the readers in suspense. Although the future seems to be uncertain, we can use our imagination to direct the course of events to our advantage.
Together with J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, Laura S. Gotz, Sînziana Popescu, Miruna Ursache, Diana Geacăr, Moony Witcher, Elena Kedros, Rick Riordan, Emily Martha Sorensen, Katie Jenkins, Todd Fahnestock, Eileen Mueller, Richard H. Stephens, S. A. Patrick, Laura Daleo, B. K. Boes, Nicole Zoltack, A. G. Roemmers, Anabel Bright, Sarah K. L. Wilson, Joss Walker and R. L. Perez, Dani Hoots, Alisha Klapheke and many others, B. K. Boes revolutionized literature with her imagination.
I recommend this book to readers 16+ because some scenes are too scary for younger readers.
Recenzie – “Mama Rebeliunii” de B. K. Boes
Este prima carte din seria “Saga Divizarea Leyuminului” de B. K. Boes. Povestea se axează pe călătoria a cinci personaje pentru a termina misiunea de a reuni țările din Leyumin după ce au fost separate în timpul unui război cu mii de ani în urmă.
Autoarea îi atrage pe cititori prin stilul unic care poate fi înțeles ușor. Lumea creată de ea este un amestec de științifico-fantastic, fantasy, fantasy creștin și ficțiune istorică. Cititorii vor călători pe diferite meleaguri, vor fi martori la diverse evenimente și vor simți emoțiile personajelor. Descrierile detaliate de-a lungul romanului ne amintesc de stilul lui Victor Hugo și de citatul din romanul psihologic “Roșu și Negru” de Stendhal: “Romanul este o oglindă purtată de-a lungul unui drum.”2 Există de asemenea și o atingere Dickensiană de vreme ce sunt scene care descriu viața celor trei clase sociale, sărăcia și nedreptatea adusă claselor de jos de către înalta societate.
Sclavia, rasismul, părinții toxici, familia disfuncțională (ex. Familia Sarrem), rivalitatea dintre frați (ex. Waen vrea să-l facă pe Moloch de râs în fața tuturor în capitolul nouă), disperarea, gândurile sinucigașe, discriminarea, abuzul, tatăl absent, cruzimea, îndoctrinarea, dictatura, prizonierii de război, dezinformarea, propaganda, corupția, ostilitatea dintre religii, misoginismul, să facem față tristeței și pierderilor, mâhnirea, trauma din copilărie (ex. În Adikea, fiii mamelor sclave (slave-sons) sunt trimiși în canioane pentru a fi pregătiți să fie războinici haini), depășirea sentimentului de vinovăție, elitismul, trasul pe sfoară, pericolele imperialismului (ex. Adikea vrea să cucerească celelalte țări și să le conducă cu o mână de fier), conservarea culturii (ex. Kaela încearcă să conserve cultura tribului ei spunând adevărata poveste a lui Yaan semenilor ei în loc să accepte versiunea modificată spusă de Matroana (Roshleth) Vyad), viața grea a copiilor cu părinți din țări diferite (ex. Mae) sunt câteva dintre problemele serioase abordate în carte.
Jabin, Kaela, Moloch, Anakai și alte câteva personaje trec prin ritul de trecere în timp ce Imrah evoluează dintr-o sclavă obedientă într-o rebelă. Anakai este similar cu Anakin și Luke Skywalker din seria “Războiul Stelelor” pentru că toți trei trec printr-o serie de antrenamente intensive să supraviețuiască și să devină războinici. Părinții Kaelei sunt întruchiparea părinților iubitori pentru că o înțeleg și o susțin pe fiica lor. Aceștia se aseamănă cu domnul și doamna Weasley din seria “Harry Potter” de J. K. Rowling.
Sava, Ednah și Lapuro sunt femei puternice în ciuda vârstei înaintate care își împărtășesc înțelepciunea cu oamenii pe care îi consideră demni și rudele lor. Bram este vocea rațiunii. Loialitatea eternă, atitudinea lui înțelegătoare și compătimitoare îl ajută pe Moloch să depășească sentimetele de nesiguranță în momente de îndoială și deznădejde. Asemeni lui Jabin și Kaelei vom învăța să ne acceptăm și să facem lucrurile în felul nostru ca Moloch.
Putem să considerăm romanul o reflexie a consecințelor Marei Schisme și a Divizării Berlinului la sfârșitul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial pentru că viața dificilă a personajelor este rezultatul sistemului corupt din țările lor de baștină.
Situația fraților gemeni ai familiei Sarrem cu părinții lor se aseamănă cu cea a Prințului John și a lui Richard Inimă de Leu pentru că ultimul era copilul preferat a
January 22, 2020
I actually gave this a five star rating. This is a very talented writer. I was enthralled right from the beginning, a very quick immersion into the story and I could not put this book down!
I received this through the Voracious Readers Only site. I am not disappointed with this book at all and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
I'm looking forward to the next instalment!
I received this through the Voracious Readers Only site. I am not disappointed with this book at all and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
I'm looking forward to the next instalment!
November 9, 2019
For the record, I received an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of this book with the request that I leave a voluntary honest review for other potential readers. That having been said, here is my honest opinion and review of this book (no spoilers). This is a wonderful start to an Epic Fantasy. It is an intriguing and complex plot with so many different threads along with tons of twists and turns. It will be interesting to see how this will all play out. The world building is excellent with interesting details of the lands of the story and some great illustrations. I found the characters to be well developed and believable rather than larger than life with clearly delineated motivations to go along with their struggles. These characters are ones that any reader can empathize with and root for as they travel through their adventures. Of course, the villians are highly complex as well and you just want them to fail in their actions. The author's writing style is smooth and easy to read while at the same time keeping the pace of the story flowing. So, my honest opinion is that this book is absolutely worth the time to read it.
January 20, 2019
I'm pretty jaded when it comes to fantasy/sci-fi genre. So I type this with sincerity.
Read This Book.
I didn't just connect with one character, the plot was well developed and MAKES SENSE, the world is crafted with care, and I can't wait to read more. beyond this line is just expounding on that.
To start, the world building was amazing. it was easy to imagine because it was shown. Not in overstated detail but through interaction, through the eyes of the people and it FELT real.
The creatures, the rituals, the cities felt alive and tangible.
The characters. From children to adults - no child is showcased as illogically smarter than an adult but they have their own shining moments Young adults are shown to have remarkable intelligence, with and without wisdom, and adults, with wisdom, screw up too. It was great.
I love guessing plot. Usually I'm right chapters and chapters ahead. Not so here. kept me guessing at length.
There we go, fabulous book, thoughtful, godly, carefully crafted piece of awesomeness.
Read This Book.
I didn't just connect with one character, the plot was well developed and MAKES SENSE, the world is crafted with care, and I can't wait to read more. beyond this line is just expounding on that.
To start, the world building was amazing. it was easy to imagine because it was shown. Not in overstated detail but through interaction, through the eyes of the people and it FELT real.
The creatures, the rituals, the cities felt alive and tangible.
The characters. From children to adults - no child is showcased as illogically smarter than an adult but they have their own shining moments Young adults are shown to have remarkable intelligence, with and without wisdom, and adults, with wisdom, screw up too. It was great.
I love guessing plot. Usually I'm right chapters and chapters ahead. Not so here. kept me guessing at length.
There we go, fabulous book, thoughtful, godly, carefully crafted piece of awesomeness.
February 13, 2019
Worth a read
This book is a quick, enjoyable read despite its intimidating length. The writing is quite polished; I only came across a scattered few typos or misspellings in the KU file, and the grammar or writing style never pulled me out of the story or caused confusion. It has a decent amount of worldbuilding, so readers feel like they have a good grasp of the setting and reasons behind the way the world is, but without being confronted with infodumps or lengthy history lessons. The characters are all fairly well-crafted, relatable to some degree, and seem human. Being the first in a series, some portion of the book is essentially prologue to set up our characters for the remaining books in the series. However, it didn’t feel like I was just reading a prologue. The events felt meaningful and I cared about the outcome. I didn’t come out thinking it was the best thing I’d ever read, but I did enjoy it and I’m definitely looking out for the release of the next book. I intend continue the series and think it’s well worth a read.
This book is a quick, enjoyable read despite its intimidating length. The writing is quite polished; I only came across a scattered few typos or misspellings in the KU file, and the grammar or writing style never pulled me out of the story or caused confusion. It has a decent amount of worldbuilding, so readers feel like they have a good grasp of the setting and reasons behind the way the world is, but without being confronted with infodumps or lengthy history lessons. The characters are all fairly well-crafted, relatable to some degree, and seem human. Being the first in a series, some portion of the book is essentially prologue to set up our characters for the remaining books in the series. However, it didn’t feel like I was just reading a prologue. The events felt meaningful and I cared about the outcome. I didn’t come out thinking it was the best thing I’d ever read, but I did enjoy it and I’m definitely looking out for the release of the next book. I intend continue the series and think it’s well worth a read.
February 2, 2019
As a book, Mother of Rebellion doesn't have too many obvious flaws. The writing works, every main character and narrative arc has been properly fleshed out, and the world-building is interesting.
The story is set in a time of war between several different countries, all pursuing unification (under themselves, of course) and follows five main protagonists:
1) Imrah, a slave kidnapped from her village and brought back to serve as a 'slave-wife', a sort of informal concubine whose sons are sent into military training at the age of 8. As far as I can tell from the title and cover, Imrah is the main protagonist of this book, and honestly also the most interesting. She's in constant low-level danger, has a great deal of character development, and is by necessity a very tough lady.
2) Imrah's oldest son, Anakai, in military training.
3) Moloch, from a neighbouring country; the son of a famous general and in an inheritance war with his brother. His character arc gradually rose in interest for me once he started actually having an impact on the inter-country war, and I enjoyed seeing the other side of the war for a change.
4) Kaela from a nomadic tribe traveling between countries
5) Jabin (and Mae), who are oracles of the future.
Every protagonist is pretty interesting and done fairly well, and really, the main flaw of Mother of Rebellion is precisely that. Having multiple protagonists is a trade off, where the hope is that all perspectives will eventually intertwine beautifully into a one glorious tapestry, making a gorgeous ending. But the more there are, the more difficult it is to ensure that the reader can fully emotionally invest in a single protagonist... and the harder it is to get a satisfactory ending out of the book.
Halfway through Mother of Rebellion, there still isn't really much sign of an overarching plot. Everyone is still maneuvering. That's interesting itself, but it feels like reading 5 books at the same time. Furthermore, I find that it would have been easier to sympathize with less protagonists. Kaela's arc might have been distilled into a single chapter or two, and since Jabin's arc didn't even touch that of the other characters, it felt disconnected to me from the greater story. While I understand the author wanted to give many perspectives, and it certainly helped build up the world in my mind, I think she would have done better to choose one to three character arcs and to focus on them.
This book reads like the prologue to a bigger book. There is a conclusion of sorts to every character arc, but since none of them touch, it's like reading the setup of something more. Luckily, I understand that there will be more books coming, so there will hopefully be something more.
I give it four stars; I finished and enjoyed the book, but would I read it again? No, probably not. Would I follow the second book? Maybe. We'll see.
The story is set in a time of war between several different countries, all pursuing unification (under themselves, of course) and follows five main protagonists:
1) Imrah, a slave kidnapped from her village and brought back to serve as a 'slave-wife', a sort of informal concubine whose sons are sent into military training at the age of 8. As far as I can tell from the title and cover, Imrah is the main protagonist of this book, and honestly also the most interesting. She's in constant low-level danger, has a great deal of character development, and is by necessity a very tough lady.
2) Imrah's oldest son, Anakai, in military training.
3) Moloch, from a neighbouring country; the son of a famous general and in an inheritance war with his brother. His character arc gradually rose in interest for me once he started actually having an impact on the inter-country war, and I enjoyed seeing the other side of the war for a change.
4) Kaela from a nomadic tribe traveling between countries
5) Jabin (and Mae), who are oracles of the future.
Every protagonist is pretty interesting and done fairly well, and really, the main flaw of Mother of Rebellion is precisely that. Having multiple protagonists is a trade off, where the hope is that all perspectives will eventually intertwine beautifully into a one glorious tapestry, making a gorgeous ending. But the more there are, the more difficult it is to ensure that the reader can fully emotionally invest in a single protagonist... and the harder it is to get a satisfactory ending out of the book.
Halfway through Mother of Rebellion, there still isn't really much sign of an overarching plot. Everyone is still maneuvering. That's interesting itself, but it feels like reading 5 books at the same time. Furthermore, I find that it would have been easier to sympathize with less protagonists. Kaela's arc might have been distilled into a single chapter or two, and since Jabin's arc didn't even touch that of the other characters, it felt disconnected to me from the greater story. While I understand the author wanted to give many perspectives, and it certainly helped build up the world in my mind, I think she would have done better to choose one to three character arcs and to focus on them.
This book reads like the prologue to a bigger book. There is a conclusion of sorts to every character arc, but since none of them touch, it's like reading the setup of something more. Luckily, I understand that there will be more books coming, so there will hopefully be something more.
I give it four stars; I finished and enjoyed the book, but would I read it again? No, probably not. Would I follow the second book? Maybe. We'll see.
August 20, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only and the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5
I highly commend authors who are able to write brilliant, complex fantasy and B.K. Boes does just that in Mother of Rebellion. She has created a well thought out and interesting world, whose characters are diverse and dynamic.
Leyumin is a vast world with diverse cultures and places. Vibrant descriptions outline each city the characters find themselves in and it is easy to feel the energy of each place. Each locale is beautifully different than the others, although I’ll admit it took me quite a few chapters to remember which kingdom was Ergon and which Eikon. The diversity of cultures between and, especially, within individual kingdoms make the world feel more real.
Of the five characters whose perspectives Boes writes, I could never decide on a favourite. Each one is complex and dynamic. They all have strengths and weaknesses, none are flawless. Their struggles are definite, their motives clear, except when they are not clear to the characters themselves. Motives change, flaws are revealed, and strengths, whether of mind or body, are shown with the finesse of a great writer.
While each character is separated by great distance from each other, the threads of connection have begun in this instalment. I can see how the actions and decisions of one character might influence or affect the others, even though there is not yet any direct connection between them.
I typically find that when writers choose this genre, many of their characters tend to be Kings and Queens, Lords and Ladies and others who start with power and influence. I found that Boes, refreshingly, does the opposite. A slave-wife, a slave-son warrior, the son of a lord, an oracle-in-training, and a young history keeper. While you may think that some of these characters have power, they certainly don’t start as influential or powerful people. The latter three of the five characters are relatively high born, but they are young when the book starts (two of them only 8 and the other 16).
I quite enjoyed this book. Boes creates an intricate world and characters. I am very excited for the second instalment of the series and am looking forward to seeing how the characters interact with each other if they ever meet. I am invested in their stories and want to see the characters grow, and gain the influence they need to change their world.
4.5/5
I highly commend authors who are able to write brilliant, complex fantasy and B.K. Boes does just that in Mother of Rebellion. She has created a well thought out and interesting world, whose characters are diverse and dynamic.
Leyumin is a vast world with diverse cultures and places. Vibrant descriptions outline each city the characters find themselves in and it is easy to feel the energy of each place. Each locale is beautifully different than the others, although I’ll admit it took me quite a few chapters to remember which kingdom was Ergon and which Eikon. The diversity of cultures between and, especially, within individual kingdoms make the world feel more real.
Of the five characters whose perspectives Boes writes, I could never decide on a favourite. Each one is complex and dynamic. They all have strengths and weaknesses, none are flawless. Their struggles are definite, their motives clear, except when they are not clear to the characters themselves. Motives change, flaws are revealed, and strengths, whether of mind or body, are shown with the finesse of a great writer.
While each character is separated by great distance from each other, the threads of connection have begun in this instalment. I can see how the actions and decisions of one character might influence or affect the others, even though there is not yet any direct connection between them.
I typically find that when writers choose this genre, many of their characters tend to be Kings and Queens, Lords and Ladies and others who start with power and influence. I found that Boes, refreshingly, does the opposite. A slave-wife, a slave-son warrior, the son of a lord, an oracle-in-training, and a young history keeper. While you may think that some of these characters have power, they certainly don’t start as influential or powerful people. The latter three of the five characters are relatively high born, but they are young when the book starts (two of them only 8 and the other 16).
I quite enjoyed this book. Boes creates an intricate world and characters. I am very excited for the second instalment of the series and am looking forward to seeing how the characters interact with each other if they ever meet. I am invested in their stories and want to see the characters grow, and gain the influence they need to change their world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2021
Mother of Rebellion is a beautifully written epic fantasy book from the point of view of 5 different people. The author did a fantastic job at all the characters involved, since I found myself invested in every single one from the start. You really can't help but connect with each character in a different way. With each different view point you get a different glimpse of the world that B.K.Boes has developed. Some reviews here have criticised the development of this world but I care to differ. For someone to be able to write each view point in a different part of the world means they must know their world.
At 600 pages this book did manage to keep me interested throughout, which means something. With the different POVs I was hoping that at some point some of them might converge and we might see a major event happen. Only towards the end do we see two of the characters start to make an impact on the shared end goal that I believe each POV must have in common with each other. The other 3 characters tended to only have character development, but that character development was a journey I didnt mind traveling. There are a few good twists within the story and Boes creates some great suspense and action.
I would really like to see where Boes takes their next book. If it is anything like this book I would really want to read it. Ive given it a 4.5 because it is brilliant in its narrative and depth but not a 5 because it is still on the slow burn in terms of its storyline.
I was given this book from the author via voracious readers only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.
At 600 pages this book did manage to keep me interested throughout, which means something. With the different POVs I was hoping that at some point some of them might converge and we might see a major event happen. Only towards the end do we see two of the characters start to make an impact on the shared end goal that I believe each POV must have in common with each other. The other 3 characters tended to only have character development, but that character development was a journey I didnt mind traveling. There are a few good twists within the story and Boes creates some great suspense and action.
I would really like to see where Boes takes their next book. If it is anything like this book I would really want to read it. Ive given it a 4.5 because it is brilliant in its narrative and depth but not a 5 because it is still on the slow burn in terms of its storyline.
I was given this book from the author via voracious readers only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.
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March 18, 2021I wanted to love this story and to be honest, it had me at the start. The characters are engaging and well written, and there is growth in each of them, which is hard to do with so many. I tip my hat to B.K. At times, Boes can be challenging for writers to display the depths that events affected characters. However, for the first series in a book, which lacked a foundation of what Leyumin was, it would be like reading Game of Thrones without the building of geographical knowledge of houses, weather, and hierarchy and then referencing as if you knew. This read felt like book 2, and I missed an entire book on needed backstory. This could have been because there were five characters to keep track of. Perhaps separating them out into a couple per book would have given more room to engage in the needed background. Please understand it is a good book with some detailed flaws I think could have been addressed by separating his book and giving more writing space. The overall story is well done, just not well executed. I do look forward to seeing what the next book entails.
April 10, 2021
Can't wait for the sequel
I loved the way the author tells the story from several points of view through the characters individual stories. The book is character rather than action driven but I like well built characters and back stories. I became invested in them could feel the risks that Imrah was taking and how Moloch was having to deal with politics to win his lady and the threat his twin brother posed and I want to know what happens to them and their world.
Because the story is character based the pace is slower but if you like having a real insight into characters and the situations they find themselves in then this book is well worth a read. Towards the end of the book you start to see how the stories might come together over time and there was a sense of quickening in the story. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next instalment.
I was given this book from the author via voracious readers for the pleasure of reading and to leave an honest review should I wish to.
I loved the way the author tells the story from several points of view through the characters individual stories. The book is character rather than action driven but I like well built characters and back stories. I became invested in them could feel the risks that Imrah was taking and how Moloch was having to deal with politics to win his lady and the threat his twin brother posed and I want to know what happens to them and their world.
Because the story is character based the pace is slower but if you like having a real insight into characters and the situations they find themselves in then this book is well worth a read. Towards the end of the book you start to see how the stories might come together over time and there was a sense of quickening in the story. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next instalment.
I was given this book from the author via voracious readers for the pleasure of reading and to leave an honest review should I wish to.
January 13, 2021
Awesome! If you enjoy fantasy fiction, you need to put this on your "to read" list.
I realize that loving fantasy fiction isn't enough of a common thread. Let me give you some more details. Mother of Rebellion was beautifully written. I'm a bit of a word nerd and I often found myself enthralled by her word choice. She vividly describes the landscape and the characters, their hope, joy, loss, pain, and desire:
"Bright colors painted the sky. Behind him, the bridge of stone, ancient, origin unknown, stretched into open air."
In addition to that, I got completely lost in the story. I'm a big Song of Ice & Fire fan. Similar to GRRM, Boes has multiple, fully developed characters and subplots that are scattered throughout the world she has created. Each character is wrapped up in a story all their own, yet overlapping with the others.
I cannot say enough good things about this book and I'm looking forward to discovering more good reads from this author.
I realize that loving fantasy fiction isn't enough of a common thread. Let me give you some more details. Mother of Rebellion was beautifully written. I'm a bit of a word nerd and I often found myself enthralled by her word choice. She vividly describes the landscape and the characters, their hope, joy, loss, pain, and desire:
"Bright colors painted the sky. Behind him, the bridge of stone, ancient, origin unknown, stretched into open air."
In addition to that, I got completely lost in the story. I'm a big Song of Ice & Fire fan. Similar to GRRM, Boes has multiple, fully developed characters and subplots that are scattered throughout the world she has created. Each character is wrapped up in a story all their own, yet overlapping with the others.
I cannot say enough good things about this book and I'm looking forward to discovering more good reads from this author.
September 22, 2022
I was very quickly drawn into this story. It is well written, with believable, well-rounded characters and the right level (for me) of descriptiveness. I was hoping by the end of the book to see that some of the separate character arcs would come together - that would be my only disappointment. For a 600 page book I thought that there would be some resolution by the end (not of the whole storyline of course). There were very tiny resolutions for some of the characters and definite development of their separate plots but I was hoping for a bit more of a hint of the overall direction of the Saga by the end of book one. Having said that, I will at some point read book 2, as I'm engaged now, but I'm not running out to grab the next one. Overall, very happy with this as a new read that came from a random source (again, to me).
December 17, 2019
Thank you for sending me this book via Voracious.
This book far exceeds my expectations because I love fantasy books and there are certain things you expect like character development, their abilities, their skills, etc. The storyline was interesting to me and I like that each character has their own goals and motivation. For me, every character in this book has their own struggles and has its own individuality. I love that it was well thought of and well done in terms of character development which one of the things I look into when reading fantasy books. Also, I like that it has a complex plot and that it has an excellent world-building and can hook you in from the beginning chapters.
Congratulations.
This book far exceeds my expectations because I love fantasy books and there are certain things you expect like character development, their abilities, their skills, etc. The storyline was interesting to me and I like that each character has their own goals and motivation. For me, every character in this book has their own struggles and has its own individuality. I love that it was well thought of and well done in terms of character development which one of the things I look into when reading fantasy books. Also, I like that it has a complex plot and that it has an excellent world-building and can hook you in from the beginning chapters.
Congratulations.
August 7, 2020
Right from the start, I enjoyed this book. The characters were so real and human, I felt like I was living alongside them. The setting is described beautifully, and the lore is woven in so naturally.
I loved all five protagonists. I was on the edge of my seat reading about Imrah and Anakai's adventures, I whispered "aww" out loud as I read about Junia and Moloch's relationship, I stared in amazement at Kaela and Jabin's character arcs.
This book is long, and I loved it for being so. More characters! More story! I loved it!
In a world of "meh" fantasy adventures, this book is a treasure.
I did find it a little hard to keep track of all five storylines at times, but I'll admit that multiple POV's is difficult to write and B.K Boes handles it very well, all things considered.
I loved all five protagonists. I was on the edge of my seat reading about Imrah and Anakai's adventures, I whispered "aww" out loud as I read about Junia and Moloch's relationship, I stared in amazement at Kaela and Jabin's character arcs.
This book is long, and I loved it for being so. More characters! More story! I loved it!
In a world of "meh" fantasy adventures, this book is a treasure.
I did find it a little hard to keep track of all five storylines at times, but I'll admit that multiple POV's is difficult to write and B.K Boes handles it very well, all things considered.
August 13, 2020
This book got me hooked since chapter one. I love to read fantasy and fiction and I know I wanted to read this book right away. The characters are great and amzingly developed. I can't wait to see the paths of the characters crossing on the next books. You can clearly see inspirations from LOTR and Star Wars, which I think is pretty cool. The author knows her way around with worlds and is a pleasure to read her. Imrah's character is definitely my favorite so far and I can't wait to see the Rebellion in action!! I'm definitely waiting to see a twist at some point. If you love a good novel, not complex and easy to follow, with well developed characters this is the book for you. ** This book was sent fto me to give an honest review by Voracious Readers **
June 27, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Like others have mentioned, this novel feels like a prologue. The plot is largely character driven and, with five alternating perspectives. Normally, I don't really like novels with multiple perspectives as I tend to get more invested in one person's story than the others, but each of these characters were so well written and interesting that I found myself invested in each ones story. However, because this is a such a character driven story, the pace does feel slow and it doesn't feel like we are much of the way through the plot yet. Hopefully this picks up in the next instalment but overall this was a great read.
Like others have mentioned, this novel feels like a prologue. The plot is largely character driven and, with five alternating perspectives. Normally, I don't really like novels with multiple perspectives as I tend to get more invested in one person's story than the others, but each of these characters were so well written and interesting that I found myself invested in each ones story. However, because this is a such a character driven story, the pace does feel slow and it doesn't feel like we are much of the way through the plot yet. Hopefully this picks up in the next instalment but overall this was a great read.
May 25, 2019
OMG this book is so good. Loved the characters and the world building is fantastic. I want book two now. I cannot wait but know that as soon as it comes out I will be putting everything else aside to read it and follow these great characters again. Does anyone know when book two is due out? Another 5 points must go to the physical book. It was such a joy to hold. The dust jacket was stunning. The cover of the book was a lovely dove grey and the paper it was printed on was perfect. A lovely smooth cream colour, which was do nice to touch. Was this a self publication because they are usually so much better quality than those mass produced.
January 28, 2021
This is the book that got my started reading epic fantasies. When I say B.K Boes knows how to build her characters, I mean she seriously does. I felt like I personally knew each main character she introduced. The way she tells her stories and brings all these characters and settings to life is amazing. She did such a wonderful job with this book that I can’t wait to read the next book. I want to know how she will continue to unfold each characters story and how they will all connect. I am beyond happy to have gotten a chance to read this book and I suggest it any chance I get. She blew it out of the ballpark with this one!
January 18, 2019
This book was WONDERFUL, by far one of the BEST fantasy novels I’ve ever
read!!! If I had the second one right now I’d be diving in and reading
all night!!! I am in love with the characters and so immersed in this
amazing world. I can’t wait to see where this epic story goes. I am so
invested in the lives of the characters and feel like they are each
imprinted on my heart. The excitement, adventure, story depth,
characters, and world are so amazing. The writing and detail are
perfection. I loved every moment and I can’t wait for the next one in
the series!!
(5 stars)
read!!! If I had the second one right now I’d be diving in and reading
all night!!! I am in love with the characters and so immersed in this
amazing world. I can’t wait to see where this epic story goes. I am so
invested in the lives of the characters and feel like they are each
imprinted on my heart. The excitement, adventure, story depth,
characters, and world are so amazing. The writing and detail are
perfection. I loved every moment and I can’t wait for the next one in
the series!!
(5 stars)
May 17, 2020
This book follows several different characters which allows insights into the differenct factions, cultures, and classes of this world. There are strong female and male characters, and all were extremely well-written. While this book was pretty long, I couldn't put it down - the story moved well with enough background that you didn't feel lost in the religion or politics of the world. This is hands down the best book I've read all year!
I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 15, 2020
This book has had me in a quandary, I like the story line and the very different characters involved, but I found the constant change from one character to another at every chapter, some of which are very short, annoying. I just start to get to know one character when wham, end of chapter and next character is up. I know this is only the first book in a saga and has a long way to go, so hopefully all the strands will draw together. I received a copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only, thank you.
August 18, 2020
I was given this by Voracious Readers. This is the first in what is obviously going to be quite a saga. Consequengtly it is a complicated plot and one has to keep the character distinct in one's minds. There are four main threads and the author has to move backwards and forwards between each main character to build the plot. He did tend to focus on the two adults more than the youngsters but one assumes their roles will increase as the saga continues. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.
October 16, 2020
Wow! This was a great first book in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author! The writing was excellent, the plot and characters were very interesting, and I appreciate that the author didn't feel the need to dump the entire history of the world on the reader as so many fantasy books do (although I would have appreciated learning just a bit more about the world). I definitely recommend checking this one out!
May 27, 2021
B.K.Boes has created a vivid world and populated it with some interesting characters building a range of different perspectives that you can see will start to come together, hopefully in the next book - the only reason I have given this 4 rather than 5 stars is that I would have liked to have seen at least some hint of how the different strands will begin to be woven together Will definitely be buying the next in the series as this is a great start to what promises to be a great story arc.
May 19, 2019
Vivid world and characters
This book took me a bit to get into, but after several chapters in, I became invested in the characters and really wanted to keep reading. The world is complex and interesting, and the main characters all feel realistic and relatable. I enjoyed this book!
This book took me a bit to get into, but after several chapters in, I became invested in the characters and really wanted to keep reading. The world is complex and interesting, and the main characters all feel realistic and relatable. I enjoyed this book!
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