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The Godseeker Duet #1
Looking for Dei
Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life is filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her adoptive father refuses to say anything about her origins and when Nara is invited to the town’s announcement ceremony, which tests youths for magical gifts, he forbids her from revealing her powers.
The poor village of Dimmitt has not announced a gifted youth for decades. But when Nara discovers that the town priest has been keeping secrets of his own, she draws upon her hidden magic to correct the injustice. Her rash decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a quest for the divine. But will the truth she reveals set her people free? Or unlock a curse that could spell her doom?
The poor village of Dimmitt has not announced a gifted youth for decades. But when Nara discovers that the town priest has been keeping secrets of his own, she draws upon her hidden magic to correct the injustice. Her rash decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a quest for the divine. But will the truth she reveals set her people free? Or unlock a curse that could spell her doom?
306 pages, ebook
First published March 22, 2018
606 people are currently reading
3352 people want to read
About the author
David A. Willson
5 books161 followersDavid A. Willson spent over two decades as an Alaska State Trooper, working major crimes across some of the most remote and beautiful terrain in the country. But even before the badge, he was a kid who found refuge in stories — reading everything he could get his hands on, trying to make sense of a world that moved too fast.
That love of narrative never left him. Today, Willson writes fiction that blends his real-world experience with a deep curiosity about the human soul, the patterns that shape behavior, and the spiritual mysteries that often go unspoken.
His supernatural crime thriller, Wet, Warm and Noisy, pulls readers into the haunting beauty and danger of Alaska, where truth is elusive and healing comes through fire. He is also the author of the YA fantasy duology Looking for Dei and Finding Kai — stories that explore destiny, courage, and faith.
More recently, Willson turned his storytelling lens toward a new adventure: grandfatherhood. Confessions of a Tiny Genius, a comedic short story told from the perspective of a hyper-intelligent baby, captures the absurd joy of watching the world through younger — and sharper — eyes.
When he’s not writing, he’s traveling, reading, or building something — a barndominium, a bookshelf, or a better question. He splits his time between Alaska and Kentucky, always watching for the next story worth telling.
That love of narrative never left him. Today, Willson writes fiction that blends his real-world experience with a deep curiosity about the human soul, the patterns that shape behavior, and the spiritual mysteries that often go unspoken.
His supernatural crime thriller, Wet, Warm and Noisy, pulls readers into the haunting beauty and danger of Alaska, where truth is elusive and healing comes through fire. He is also the author of the YA fantasy duology Looking for Dei and Finding Kai — stories that explore destiny, courage, and faith.
More recently, Willson turned his storytelling lens toward a new adventure: grandfatherhood. Confessions of a Tiny Genius, a comedic short story told from the perspective of a hyper-intelligent baby, captures the absurd joy of watching the world through younger — and sharper — eyes.
When he’s not writing, he’s traveling, reading, or building something — a barndominium, a bookshelf, or a better question. He splits his time between Alaska and Kentucky, always watching for the next story worth telling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 26, 2018
Story: 4
Narration: 5
Overall: 4.5
David A Willson is such a talent! Looking For Dei is a wonderfully written fantasy story that focuses on the lives of Nara, her wonderful adopted father and her best friend Mykel. Nara has magic. Most people that possess magical powers have one, extremely powerful people can have up to two but Nara has many and throughout the story she learns more about herself and her powers.
There is a lot of world building within this book but it's done amazingly well, it is interwoven within the story-line. This is a fabulous story in it's own right but it is also an incredibly strong base for future stories to build upon. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. The story pace changes throughout the book but it's a natural ebb and flow and is necessary for the tale. Looking For Dei has left me impatient for more.
I must confess that I didn't look at who the narrator was before I started listening to Looking For Dei. I actually did a little happy dance when the audiobook started and it was Tanya Eby narrating. (I have reviewed other books that she has narrated) She is without a doubt a very highly talented voice actor and her talents are perfectly showcased in Looking For Dei. The various characters were all clear and distinctive and she maintains a wonderful pace throughout. She conveys emotion, and intensity in her reading and is the perfect match for this outstanding work by David A Willson.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by David A. Willson. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Narration: 5
Overall: 4.5
David A Willson is such a talent! Looking For Dei is a wonderfully written fantasy story that focuses on the lives of Nara, her wonderful adopted father and her best friend Mykel. Nara has magic. Most people that possess magical powers have one, extremely powerful people can have up to two but Nara has many and throughout the story she learns more about herself and her powers.
There is a lot of world building within this book but it's done amazingly well, it is interwoven within the story-line. This is a fabulous story in it's own right but it is also an incredibly strong base for future stories to build upon. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. The story pace changes throughout the book but it's a natural ebb and flow and is necessary for the tale. Looking For Dei has left me impatient for more.
I must confess that I didn't look at who the narrator was before I started listening to Looking For Dei. I actually did a little happy dance when the audiobook started and it was Tanya Eby narrating. (I have reviewed other books that she has narrated) She is without a doubt a very highly talented voice actor and her talents are perfectly showcased in Looking For Dei. The various characters were all clear and distinctive and she maintains a wonderful pace throughout. She conveys emotion, and intensity in her reading and is the perfect match for this outstanding work by David A Willson.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by David A. Willson. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
May 31, 2018
Looking for Dei was a book I was sent for review and I loved the cover. I loved the look of a powerful girl taking advantage of her powers, and I couldn’t wait to delve into a fantasy world and see what was in store for me. Although there were some elements to the book which I wasn’t too thrilled about, it still left me pretty excited for the rest of the series!
One of my favourite things about this book had to be the world building and the magic system. I think the author did a great job of settling us into the world. We start in one city, but then characters begin to explore (and frankly, run for their lives,) and then we get to see a bit more. There’s also a switching point of view so you get to see the upper class and lower class. I especially liked that we got such a wide view of everything.
As for the magic, that had to be the best part. Nara is powerful. Quite overwhelmingly so – even she feels it herself in this book and it makes her hesitant to take advantage of it. But while Nara has her special kind of magic, another magic comes into play. The usual magic some people are gifted with a kind of… man-made magic in a way? It involves runes, but that’s all I’ll say. I found it to be utterly realistic. If there was such a phenomenon as magic around, I’m sure humans would find a way to try and make a replica, or a man-made version, even if it wouldn’t be as perfect as natural magic.
I also really liked how the themes of faith and religion are discretely woven into the novel. Before you let this be a turn off – it’s never very blatant. But Nara believes she is blessed with her powers for a higher purpose. She struggles, though, because regardless of what she does she doesn’t feel Dei’s powers or hears from him (the God in this world.) It kind of gave me Children of Blood and Bone feels for how it handled the theme of faith in relation to magic.
Sadly, I think this book fell into first book syndrome. It happens quite a bit with fantasy series. You need to set up everything – the characters, the relationships, the beginning of an over-arching plot, a long-term villain, have the magic discovery and training montage. But then at the same time this book needs to be able to stand onto its own two feet. That last part is usually the bit that gets a bit rushed, and I felt the effects of it here in the novel. It doesn’t make it a bad book, but it means that the sequel will only be better.
But it did lead me to find the book to bit of a slow read at times. Especially when it came to the training montage. I know we, as readers, need to have a grasp on how the characters can do what they can do. But I quickly got over the training and wanted to get back to the action. Switching points of view helped – we could bounce to the upper class and see what action was going on with them in between the slower bits – but it still dragged a little in the middle there.
I liked most of the characters but didn’t really have any I loved. I was really excited to see Nara’s strength from the cover and because she has so much potential. But she also has so much doubt! It was fair enough because we all know great power comes with great burden and responsibility. I wish she was able to do a little bit more, but the ending hints that there might be more of her as a strong, butt-kicking lead in book two.
I liked Gwyn because she was our grey area moral code character. She’s secondary but fairly developed and we get a bit of her point of view too.
What was interesting about this book was that there was more than one villain! I can only really think of one or two books which have done this before when it comes to fantasy. I like that there are two threats to consider. One of them was a bit tame in this book, but I got the impression that they would have more of a negative impact in book two. I’ll have to wait and see!
Relevance to today: This book does a good job of discussing what it means to take charge and be a leader. You’ll have power at your disposal, and even if you mean to use that power for nothing but good, it’s inevitable that there will be some hurt or some wrongdoings. The book really discusses whether this makes you a bad person, or if it’s inevitable, and when to know the difference. I really appreciated thinking about that. As so many of us are leaders in this day and age, whether that’s as an older sibling, parent, in the workplace, to your friends, online, it’s something to be mindful of.
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/0...
One of my favourite things about this book had to be the world building and the magic system. I think the author did a great job of settling us into the world. We start in one city, but then characters begin to explore (and frankly, run for their lives,) and then we get to see a bit more. There’s also a switching point of view so you get to see the upper class and lower class. I especially liked that we got such a wide view of everything.
As for the magic, that had to be the best part. Nara is powerful. Quite overwhelmingly so – even she feels it herself in this book and it makes her hesitant to take advantage of it. But while Nara has her special kind of magic, another magic comes into play. The usual magic some people are gifted with a kind of… man-made magic in a way? It involves runes, but that’s all I’ll say. I found it to be utterly realistic. If there was such a phenomenon as magic around, I’m sure humans would find a way to try and make a replica, or a man-made version, even if it wouldn’t be as perfect as natural magic.
I also really liked how the themes of faith and religion are discretely woven into the novel. Before you let this be a turn off – it’s never very blatant. But Nara believes she is blessed with her powers for a higher purpose. She struggles, though, because regardless of what she does she doesn’t feel Dei’s powers or hears from him (the God in this world.) It kind of gave me Children of Blood and Bone feels for how it handled the theme of faith in relation to magic.
Sadly, I think this book fell into first book syndrome. It happens quite a bit with fantasy series. You need to set up everything – the characters, the relationships, the beginning of an over-arching plot, a long-term villain, have the magic discovery and training montage. But then at the same time this book needs to be able to stand onto its own two feet. That last part is usually the bit that gets a bit rushed, and I felt the effects of it here in the novel. It doesn’t make it a bad book, but it means that the sequel will only be better.
But it did lead me to find the book to bit of a slow read at times. Especially when it came to the training montage. I know we, as readers, need to have a grasp on how the characters can do what they can do. But I quickly got over the training and wanted to get back to the action. Switching points of view helped – we could bounce to the upper class and see what action was going on with them in between the slower bits – but it still dragged a little in the middle there.
I liked most of the characters but didn’t really have any I loved. I was really excited to see Nara’s strength from the cover and because she has so much potential. But she also has so much doubt! It was fair enough because we all know great power comes with great burden and responsibility. I wish she was able to do a little bit more, but the ending hints that there might be more of her as a strong, butt-kicking lead in book two.
I liked Gwyn because she was our grey area moral code character. She’s secondary but fairly developed and we get a bit of her point of view too.
What was interesting about this book was that there was more than one villain! I can only really think of one or two books which have done this before when it comes to fantasy. I like that there are two threats to consider. One of them was a bit tame in this book, but I got the impression that they would have more of a negative impact in book two. I’ll have to wait and see!
Relevance to today: This book does a good job of discussing what it means to take charge and be a leader. You’ll have power at your disposal, and even if you mean to use that power for nothing but good, it’s inevitable that there will be some hurt or some wrongdoings. The book really discusses whether this makes you a bad person, or if it’s inevitable, and when to know the difference. I really appreciated thinking about that. As so many of us are leaders in this day and age, whether that’s as an older sibling, parent, in the workplace, to your friends, online, it’s something to be mindful of.
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/0...
May 31, 2018
I was on the promotional tour for this book!
Looking for Dei is a YA Fantasy that involves magical gifts and what the consequences are, should things get out of hand. In Nara’s village, gifted youths is a thing of the past. But the mystery surrounds the area, as to why this has become the case. Nara decides that the right thing to do, is use her powers to uncover the mystery. But once events start happening, is her ideas suddenly out of control? It is a visual read, that was action-packed in every chapter. The novel’s strengths for me were the world-building and descriptions of the gifts that the various young people were discovered to have. The last couple of chapters as Nara is about to actively confront a scary nightmare, made the plotline extremely thrilling. I’m intrigued to see where the story goes next, after that cliffhanger! Recommended for those who like their fantasy with lots of magic, action and fast-paced dialogue!
Looking for Dei is a YA Fantasy that involves magical gifts and what the consequences are, should things get out of hand. In Nara’s village, gifted youths is a thing of the past. But the mystery surrounds the area, as to why this has become the case. Nara decides that the right thing to do, is use her powers to uncover the mystery. But once events start happening, is her ideas suddenly out of control? It is a visual read, that was action-packed in every chapter. The novel’s strengths for me were the world-building and descriptions of the gifts that the various young people were discovered to have. The last couple of chapters as Nara is about to actively confront a scary nightmare, made the plotline extremely thrilling. I’m intrigued to see where the story goes next, after that cliffhanger! Recommended for those who like their fantasy with lots of magic, action and fast-paced dialogue!
March 27, 2018
Looking for Dei by David A Wilson starts out with a childhood memory and I’m hoping that means good things are to come. But…the old man…
Mykel and Nara are best friends. Would he like more? Maybe, but he is patient young man. With his scar, he feels inferior, but she doesn’t pay any attention to it. After all, her is bigger, though hidden.
Bylo, her sort of father, loved her, raised her and helped keep her secret. He brought her to Dimmit to hide her, protect her. The announcement exposes them…I knew that would happen, but now what. Is flight the only option? Leave everyone and everything they have ever known?
Our journey has begun, and at twenty eight percent in my Kindle, I see the evil coming their way.
When I first started reading Looking for Dei by David A Wilson, I wondered why I grabbed this ARC for review. Was it just the pretty cover? lol I am a sap for a pretty cover. As I began reading, I found out why. My curiosity and desire for Nara, Mykel and Bylo’s journey made me feel better.
Betrayal won’t stop them, and sometimes things are not as they appear. People can and do change. And love…does it conquer all?
Lots of action happening on many fronts. I wonder what will happen when all the characters come together. Will the bad characters stay bad? Is there no leeway for, at least, some of them to do the right thing?
Looking for Dei by David A Wilson did not go the way I thought it would, but I did enjoy the story and the characters. Is there a happy ever after? I always want to think so. I got into the romance and magic, but I felt no sense of urgency, even when I knew danger was coming. If you are a reader of young love, magic, mystery and danger, this may be one for you.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Looking for Dei by David A Wilson.
See more at fundinmental
Mykel and Nara are best friends. Would he like more? Maybe, but he is patient young man. With his scar, he feels inferior, but she doesn’t pay any attention to it. After all, her is bigger, though hidden.
Bylo, her sort of father, loved her, raised her and helped keep her secret. He brought her to Dimmit to hide her, protect her. The announcement exposes them…I knew that would happen, but now what. Is flight the only option? Leave everyone and everything they have ever known?
Our journey has begun, and at twenty eight percent in my Kindle, I see the evil coming their way.
When I first started reading Looking for Dei by David A Wilson, I wondered why I grabbed this ARC for review. Was it just the pretty cover? lol I am a sap for a pretty cover. As I began reading, I found out why. My curiosity and desire for Nara, Mykel and Bylo’s journey made me feel better.
Betrayal won’t stop them, and sometimes things are not as they appear. People can and do change. And love…does it conquer all?
Lots of action happening on many fronts. I wonder what will happen when all the characters come together. Will the bad characters stay bad? Is there no leeway for, at least, some of them to do the right thing?
Looking for Dei by David A Wilson did not go the way I thought it would, but I did enjoy the story and the characters. Is there a happy ever after? I always want to think so. I got into the romance and magic, but I felt no sense of urgency, even when I knew danger was coming. If you are a reader of young love, magic, mystery and danger, this may be one for you.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Looking for Dei by David A Wilson.
See more at fundinmental
December 5, 2022
This was a good one, Nina and Mykel grow up as friends, with no idea of their future and the powers that have not yet manifested in them. A true good versus evil tableau with helpful and bad characters along the way. Sisters cojoined at birth, separated soon after birth, to fulfill a prophecy. And a fraught ride it is.
I enjoyed this one and look forward to the second, and final book in the dualogy.
I enjoyed this one and look forward to the second, and final book in the dualogy.
May 20, 2018
"The townsfolk held their breath as if deep underwater, lungs bursting with discomfort until they could reach the surface and exhale the anxiety of the moment."
Looking for Dei by David A. Willson is a quick-paced, elemental adventure with a cast of beautiful heroes.
The novel opens with a monk kidnapping a scarred child, whom we later meet as 16-year-old Nara. The monk, Bilo, has raised her as his own but for years has kept her powers hidden for fear that those in power would find her and seek to use her for their own needs. This has made Nara even more curious about her abilities, some of which she understands and some of which she doesn't.
When the novel opens, we learn that there is a ceremony to test children to see if they have gifts, such speed, strength, an ability to draw the life-force out of people and animals, and so on. However, we also learn that the town where Nara and Bilo, Dimmitt, has not seen any Gifted people in years, which has impoverished the town. Nara learns the reason for this and attempts to make things right. Only it puts her, Bilo, and her friend Mykel on the run for the rest of the book.
As Looking for Dei progresses, we see another side of the story; Nara's twin, Kayna. As the chapters shift between the sisters, the reader begins to compare and contrast the two identical and features but far from identical in traits.
"[Bilo searched] for the power in the runes of scripture. The designs had power, and Nara was part of all that, but he didn't know exactly how, and he was determined to find out. But there was nobody he could ask, and his only guide was an old book. A book about magic. A book he kept very close."
From the beginning, the novel has an even-but-fast pace, with great visual and lots of action.
I like how Willson brings in flashbacks of various characters, giving even evil characters the chance to shine and the reader the opportunity to discover why they act the way they do. At one point, the reader can sympathise with Minister of War Nikolas Vorick because of his background, even though his greed brings about the destruction of many.
Worlds collide when Nara and her twin are reunited, igniting stark contrasts, especially has Nara has been poor most of her life, while Kayna had been living with the most powerful minister in the realm.
"You could be dangerous if you wanted."
One of the things I loved about Looking for Dei was the cover as it displayed an actual event in the novel and as it helped me imagine the main character Nara.
Character development, although slow, is evident for Nara, Bilo, and Mykel. Each of the characters, even some of the supporting ones, develops in some way. I truly enjoyed the change I saw in each of them. Nara is often skeptical about herself and abilities and for good reason, she has not been trained; sometimes, she too naïve or kind, but then the goodness of her heart sets her apart from her twin and from all the characters in Looking for Dei.
In terms of lines or imagery, there were a lot of powerful lines and scenes throughout the book. There were some parts I wish I could quote whole, but couldn't to avoid spoilers.
"Nara knew no way to attack the men; she could only build caves, talk to animals, or make her hands glow with light. None of that would stop men with swords, would it?"
When I was at around 90% of the novel, I could not grasp how the author will end his novel because I felt there was still a lot to. But the ending satisfied me. And I'm thankful for that.
I'm not sure if Looking for Dei is a good title for the novel though.
Although Looking for Dei is in a fantastical world and setting, I couldn't help but notice some Christian allusions in the novel. It could just be me, but I felt them more than once. It didn't affect my view of the book though.
"The twins aren't the twin peaks; they are actual human twins!"
Overall, Looking for Dei by David A. Willson is an exciting and action-and-magic-packed must read full of adventure and characters to root for.
Note: I received a free copy of Looking for Dei from its author David A. Willson in exchange for an honest review, which should have come much earlier than May, but personal reasons have prevented me from finishing the book earlier.
Looking for Dei by David A. Willson is a quick-paced, elemental adventure with a cast of beautiful heroes.
The novel opens with a monk kidnapping a scarred child, whom we later meet as 16-year-old Nara. The monk, Bilo, has raised her as his own but for years has kept her powers hidden for fear that those in power would find her and seek to use her for their own needs. This has made Nara even more curious about her abilities, some of which she understands and some of which she doesn't.
When the novel opens, we learn that there is a ceremony to test children to see if they have gifts, such speed, strength, an ability to draw the life-force out of people and animals, and so on. However, we also learn that the town where Nara and Bilo, Dimmitt, has not seen any Gifted people in years, which has impoverished the town. Nara learns the reason for this and attempts to make things right. Only it puts her, Bilo, and her friend Mykel on the run for the rest of the book.
As Looking for Dei progresses, we see another side of the story; Nara's twin, Kayna. As the chapters shift between the sisters, the reader begins to compare and contrast the two identical and features but far from identical in traits.
"[Bilo searched] for the power in the runes of scripture. The designs had power, and Nara was part of all that, but he didn't know exactly how, and he was determined to find out. But there was nobody he could ask, and his only guide was an old book. A book about magic. A book he kept very close."
From the beginning, the novel has an even-but-fast pace, with great visual and lots of action.
I like how Willson brings in flashbacks of various characters, giving even evil characters the chance to shine and the reader the opportunity to discover why they act the way they do. At one point, the reader can sympathise with Minister of War Nikolas Vorick because of his background, even though his greed brings about the destruction of many.
Worlds collide when Nara and her twin are reunited, igniting stark contrasts, especially has Nara has been poor most of her life, while Kayna had been living with the most powerful minister in the realm.
"You could be dangerous if you wanted."
One of the things I loved about Looking for Dei was the cover as it displayed an actual event in the novel and as it helped me imagine the main character Nara.
Character development, although slow, is evident for Nara, Bilo, and Mykel. Each of the characters, even some of the supporting ones, develops in some way. I truly enjoyed the change I saw in each of them. Nara is often skeptical about herself and abilities and for good reason, she has not been trained; sometimes, she too naïve or kind, but then the goodness of her heart sets her apart from her twin and from all the characters in Looking for Dei.
In terms of lines or imagery, there were a lot of powerful lines and scenes throughout the book. There were some parts I wish I could quote whole, but couldn't to avoid spoilers.
"Nara knew no way to attack the men; she could only build caves, talk to animals, or make her hands glow with light. None of that would stop men with swords, would it?"
When I was at around 90% of the novel, I could not grasp how the author will end his novel because I felt there was still a lot to. But the ending satisfied me. And I'm thankful for that.
I'm not sure if Looking for Dei is a good title for the novel though.
Although Looking for Dei is in a fantastical world and setting, I couldn't help but notice some Christian allusions in the novel. It could just be me, but I felt them more than once. It didn't affect my view of the book though.
"The twins aren't the twin peaks; they are actual human twins!"
Overall, Looking for Dei by David A. Willson is an exciting and action-and-magic-packed must read full of adventure and characters to root for.
Note: I received a free copy of Looking for Dei from its author David A. Willson in exchange for an honest review, which should have come much earlier than May, but personal reasons have prevented me from finishing the book earlier.
January 9, 2018
Looking for Dei is the story of a prophecy involving twins, and one of the twins is the main character. Nara is a teenage girl with secret abilities she is trying to hide from an annual tradition that exposes people with powers. Although Nara isn't discovered one of her friends is deemed to be cursed, causing her, a father figure, and her friend to all run away.
One of my biggest issues with this book was the cliches. We had Nara, who was not like other girls. "Nara didn't fit in with the other girls, and she wondered what Mykel saw in her. She didn't look like the other girls either, with bright-red hair that others often commented on- hair that stood out in a crowd." (Location 138 from the kindle edition) Then alongside that her best friend Mykel was in love with her, but she didn't love him back. Also Nara was not a particularly strong lead until around the end of the book. She was fueled by her powers but she wasn't much of a fighter. All she really did was heal people.
This book also contained a lot of information dumps where the author just wrote a character's entire story. From reading a few paragraphs I knew everything there was to know about Gwyn or Mykel because the information dumps covered everything. In the span of three paragraphs I knew how the characters looked and also their tragic backstories.
When I started this book I was not expecting their to be more than one character's point of view. I think the element of getting more than one character's perspective really made this story more three dimensional. Willson wrote chapters from the perspective of both the protagonists and antagonists. The points of views changed without a certain order, which sort of bothered me because I was never sure what character I was about read about.
The last thing I have to complain about is that there were several misspellings and typos in the arc copy I read, so I hope that these are all cleaned and polished before the book actually releases in the Spring.
Now, onto the good stuff! Willson masterfully creating a aura around this book. I don't even know how to describe it, the entire book just felt unique and real. The characters were diverse and easy to tell apart from on another. Willson also came up and used some creative names for his characters, which was refreshing. Unique names without the pain of trying to figure out how to pronounce them.
The book was a quick read that only took me a little over three hours of complete. I read almost all of it in one sitting than finished it up the next day. Quick reads are amazing, I love when I get can through a book without it taking a long time.
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One of my biggest issues with this book was the cliches. We had Nara, who was not like other girls. "Nara didn't fit in with the other girls, and she wondered what Mykel saw in her. She didn't look like the other girls either, with bright-red hair that others often commented on- hair that stood out in a crowd." (Location 138 from the kindle edition) Then alongside that her best friend Mykel was in love with her, but she didn't love him back. Also Nara was not a particularly strong lead until around the end of the book. She was fueled by her powers but she wasn't much of a fighter. All she really did was heal people.
This book also contained a lot of information dumps where the author just wrote a character's entire story. From reading a few paragraphs I knew everything there was to know about Gwyn or Mykel because the information dumps covered everything. In the span of three paragraphs I knew how the characters looked and also their tragic backstories.
When I started this book I was not expecting their to be more than one character's point of view. I think the element of getting more than one character's perspective really made this story more three dimensional. Willson wrote chapters from the perspective of both the protagonists and antagonists. The points of views changed without a certain order, which sort of bothered me because I was never sure what character I was about read about.
The last thing I have to complain about is that there were several misspellings and typos in the arc copy I read, so I hope that these are all cleaned and polished before the book actually releases in the Spring.
Now, onto the good stuff! Willson masterfully creating a aura around this book. I don't even know how to describe it, the entire book just felt unique and real. The characters were diverse and easy to tell apart from on another. Willson also came up and used some creative names for his characters, which was refreshing. Unique names without the pain of trying to figure out how to pronounce them.
The book was a quick read that only took me a little over three hours of complete. I read almost all of it in one sitting than finished it up the next day. Quick reads are amazing, I love when I get can through a book without it taking a long time.
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2018
David A. Willson’s Looking For Dei is a wonderful new YA novel. It is listed under YA Fantasy and Urban Fantasy… I’m not sure that it quite fits either of those molds. It also isn’t quite an apocalyptic dystopia, but there are minor elements of all those genres, making modern teen readers feel right at home with the themes.
The story follows a few different POVs but mainly focuses on Nara and Mykel; Nara has a mysterious heritage and Mykel, her friend can empathize with her because of a birth defect. Looking for Dei evoked the same kinds of feeling that I get when watching the televised Shanara Chronicles. For the most part it’s good, but it’s also sometimes soooo YA slanted. But like I said: good. The story also evokes some themes of Madeleine L’Engle that I enjoy (themes of good vs evil and some very positive tropes that border on allegory in many respects.)
Willson is his own writer and while there are tropes present (without overt spoilers, you’ll see what I mean when you encounter the light and dark dualism personified) he clearly isn’t ripping off anyone else’s story (I’m looking at you Paolini) and has crafted his own universe. I felt the universe took a little bit to unfold and would’ve liked to see the action unfold earlier than it did, but world-building can take time. I particularly enjoyed the little “flavoring” snippets such as quotes from the fictional holy texts like Cataclysmos—they really added a layer of depth that helps in more than just building a mythos, but drawing a reader into it.
This is, over all, an enjoyable read and a good fit for pretty much any audience that enjoys YA or fantasy reads. I got my copy as an ARC to review for my Inside the Inkwell Blog.
The story follows a few different POVs but mainly focuses on Nara and Mykel; Nara has a mysterious heritage and Mykel, her friend can empathize with her because of a birth defect. Looking for Dei evoked the same kinds of feeling that I get when watching the televised Shanara Chronicles. For the most part it’s good, but it’s also sometimes soooo YA slanted. But like I said: good. The story also evokes some themes of Madeleine L’Engle that I enjoy (themes of good vs evil and some very positive tropes that border on allegory in many respects.)
Willson is his own writer and while there are tropes present (without overt spoilers, you’ll see what I mean when you encounter the light and dark dualism personified) he clearly isn’t ripping off anyone else’s story (I’m looking at you Paolini) and has crafted his own universe. I felt the universe took a little bit to unfold and would’ve liked to see the action unfold earlier than it did, but world-building can take time. I particularly enjoyed the little “flavoring” snippets such as quotes from the fictional holy texts like Cataclysmos—they really added a layer of depth that helps in more than just building a mythos, but drawing a reader into it.
This is, over all, an enjoyable read and a good fit for pretty much any audience that enjoys YA or fantasy reads. I got my copy as an ARC to review for my Inside the Inkwell Blog.
April 4, 2018
Looking for Dei was such a delicious YA high fantasy read!! The world and magic system were so incredibly unique, and the writing was beautiful! If you love high fantasy and any kind of magic, I know that you would really enjoy this book! It's one of those books that I feel is much too underrated for the quality of the fantastical world.
The writing did not catch me from the very beginning, like a story should. But the writing was still great, and I definitely became more interested in the story as it went on!
This world is so genius! I love the symbolism of the gods and the "scriptures," which are like Greek mythology. The whole magic system with gifted young people was really unique, and I loved that element of the story. Learning about the world was probably my favorite part of the novel, which is really important for a fantasy novel in my opinion.
The characters were also really great! And there were a lot of characters; it was almost too many in the beginning. But they all came together eventually, and everything made more sense. The characters were all rounded very well, and I loved their relationships with each other.
This whole novel was intricate and detailed, like a good high fantasy should be! I loved the world, writing, and characters. I highly recommend this book!
The writing did not catch me from the very beginning, like a story should. But the writing was still great, and I definitely became more interested in the story as it went on!
This world is so genius! I love the symbolism of the gods and the "scriptures," which are like Greek mythology. The whole magic system with gifted young people was really unique, and I loved that element of the story. Learning about the world was probably my favorite part of the novel, which is really important for a fantasy novel in my opinion.
The characters were also really great! And there were a lot of characters; it was almost too many in the beginning. But they all came together eventually, and everything made more sense. The characters were all rounded very well, and I loved their relationships with each other.
This whole novel was intricate and detailed, like a good high fantasy should be! I loved the world, writing, and characters. I highly recommend this book!
December 6, 2017
I got an e-copy ARC of this book from NetGally in return for an honest review. This book was a quick read. Took me a day because I was also studying for exams. The plot was interesting however the writing was a bit scattered. There was a a lot of information dumps which made it a bit dull to read as the author tended to drag out character descriptions. But it was interesting enough to keep reading.
October 12, 2018
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Wonderful characters and great world building make for really enjoyable story.
It may be for teens but I just could not put this down.
Give me more.
Wonderful characters and great world building make for really enjoyable story.
It may be for teens but I just could not put this down.
Give me more.
August 25, 2019
I recieved a copy of Looking for Dei from winning the giveaway, and after reading the book, I was amazed. What a plot twist! And it's not like any other book I read where a young girl gets accomoanied by not only her her childhood friend/crush, but also an elderly lady, a rogue warrior, and the MC's adoptive father. And you get to see see the point of view, including Vorick and Kayna's.
I was intrigued by Vorick's background, how he didn't get love from his father. At first, I felt bad for him. But then, he was hungry for power and how cruel he was when Vorick first wore the armor. And to think, Kayna would be the opposite but, sadly, she has the same attitude as her adoptive father. Careless and greedy.
I hope to read the sequel to The Godseeker Duet. I want to know what goes on in the next book. Rooting for Naya!
I was intrigued by Vorick's background, how he didn't get love from his father. At first, I felt bad for him. But then, he was hungry for power and how cruel he was when Vorick first wore the armor. And to think, Kayna would be the opposite but, sadly, she has the same attitude as her adoptive father. Careless and greedy.
I hope to read the sequel to The Godseeker Duet. I want to know what goes on in the next book. Rooting for Naya!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
This was an ok book it had lots of potential especially by the end of it. The characters are ok not the best and not the worst either. If I had to pick characters I like they would be Nara and Mykel she is a kind person who wants to protect the people she cares about and Mykel wants to protect the person he loves. I also found myself liking some of the side characters they added some interesting things to the story. I did not like how all over the place the pacing was or all of the character POVs some seemed very unnecessary. The plot was alright it took a while to move much and it really dragged along it was not until the ending did the plot very good. So overall this an decent book with potential I may read the sequel someday.
May 25, 2018
3.5/5
Looking For Dei by David A. Wilson is an interesting new high fantasy read with a believable storyline and an impressive world-setting. I was pulled into the story right from the start and was kept engaged till I hit the middle part of the story, and that was when I kind of hit a brick wall. After about 45% I started to struggle because of the pacing, which was pretty good until that point but then suddenly slacked and the story started to feel like a drag. Fortunately, after a while, the pacing picked up again (albeit a bit slowly) and I was happy to reach the end of the story without any further pacing issues. The story picked up in the ending again and overall I was glad that I picked this read.
I was fortunate enough to get this book in both the formats - e-book from NetGalley and audiobook from Audiobookworm. I started this with the e-book but when I got the audio, obviously I listened to the entire story because that just saved me a hell of a lot of time! Also, the narration was pretty good and I loved the different variation the narrator used especially of the old crone, Ann.
I'd recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers, and even to those who rarely read fantasy and are looking for a new fantasy series to explore.
You can also read this review at: www.thereadingbud.com
Looking For Dei by David A. Wilson is an interesting new high fantasy read with a believable storyline and an impressive world-setting. I was pulled into the story right from the start and was kept engaged till I hit the middle part of the story, and that was when I kind of hit a brick wall. After about 45% I started to struggle because of the pacing, which was pretty good until that point but then suddenly slacked and the story started to feel like a drag. Fortunately, after a while, the pacing picked up again (albeit a bit slowly) and I was happy to reach the end of the story without any further pacing issues. The story picked up in the ending again and overall I was glad that I picked this read.
I was fortunate enough to get this book in both the formats - e-book from NetGalley and audiobook from Audiobookworm. I started this with the e-book but when I got the audio, obviously I listened to the entire story because that just saved me a hell of a lot of time! Also, the narration was pretty good and I loved the different variation the narrator used especially of the old crone, Ann.
I'd recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers, and even to those who rarely read fantasy and are looking for a new fantasy series to explore.
You can also read this review at: www.thereadingbud.com
May 30, 2018
The heroine of our story is a teenage girl called Nara, and she lives in a backwater and poor village called Dimmitt. Nara and her friend Mykel are awaiting the announcement ceremony where hopefully someone in their village would be gifted and bring hope to the village.
This is start of an adventure which takes them from one end of the land the other. Until Nara is captured for her gifts to be used by an evil and ambitious man.
This is the first in a series, and sets the scene perfectly. There is the world building, believe system and ancient prophecies and the great characters. All in all an enjoyable and captivating read. Where is book two, I’ll be waiting as I love to escape into interesting and magical stories.
This is start of an adventure which takes them from one end of the land the other. Until Nara is captured for her gifts to be used by an evil and ambitious man.
This is the first in a series, and sets the scene perfectly. There is the world building, believe system and ancient prophecies and the great characters. All in all an enjoyable and captivating read. Where is book two, I’ll be waiting as I love to escape into interesting and magical stories.
March 31, 2018
The author wrote great imagery and the world felt real, as if I was in it. The plot development was very smooth. I really enjoyed the pace of this book, which held my interest. I was extremely hooked on Nara and Kayna's story. The contrast between Nara and Kayna is striking, considering that they are twins. Nara takes life for granted while Kanya finds joy in taking lives. The concept of the "broken" ones having special gifts is an interesting twist that I enjoyed, sort of the opposite of real life, but also an inspiration. Read more of my review at http://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com/...
May 31, 2018
Looking for Dei was a refreshing surprise! When I began reading, I honestly thought, “Oh, here we go again with another Hunger Games or Divergent wanna-be.” I didn’t know if I was going to be able to read it. I was completely wrong!
This book is brilliantly written. While I am not a huge fan of most fantasy, Looking for Dei takes you on a beautiful journey of self-exploration, growing up, and did I mention the magic? The magic is fascinating!
Nara and Mykel live in the small town of Dimmitt. Each year, there is an announcement ceremony - to discover which children are gifted (with magic) and this year, it is their chance. During the ceremony, chaos ensues and Mykel, Nara and Bylo (Nara’s adoptive father) find themselves on the run, but even they don’t know who or what they are really running from.
The characters in this story are amazing. They are intricately developed - each really take on a life of their own, good or bad. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what would happen next.
Yay’s -
The characters are extremely well developed. The landscapes (as I picture them based on the writing) are vivid and beautiful. The magic is really unlike any I’ve read about before. I love the unique perspective the author writes from.
Nay’s -
The book was a little slow to get into; however, I was rewarded for continuing to read. As I shared earlier, I thought it was going to be another attempt at reliving Divergent, and there are some similarities, but that is all. This book stands on its own!
All in all, an excellent read!
This book is brilliantly written. While I am not a huge fan of most fantasy, Looking for Dei takes you on a beautiful journey of self-exploration, growing up, and did I mention the magic? The magic is fascinating!
Nara and Mykel live in the small town of Dimmitt. Each year, there is an announcement ceremony - to discover which children are gifted (with magic) and this year, it is their chance. During the ceremony, chaos ensues and Mykel, Nara and Bylo (Nara’s adoptive father) find themselves on the run, but even they don’t know who or what they are really running from.
The characters in this story are amazing. They are intricately developed - each really take on a life of their own, good or bad. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what would happen next.
Yay’s -
The characters are extremely well developed. The landscapes (as I picture them based on the writing) are vivid and beautiful. The magic is really unlike any I’ve read about before. I love the unique perspective the author writes from.
Nay’s -
The book was a little slow to get into; however, I was rewarded for continuing to read. As I shared earlier, I thought it was going to be another attempt at reliving Divergent, and there are some similarities, but that is all. This book stands on its own!
All in all, an excellent read!
July 3, 2018
Once you start this story, you'll want to finish it, even though this book is only the beginning of a fantastic adventure. The characters are engaging and dynamic, and the storyline is intriguing and exciting. The book follows the life of Nara, from her abduction in toddlerhood to her passage into her prime through a dystopian style announcement ceremony, and the somewhat unexpected chaos that follows. The magical elements coexist with the spiritual in this tale, and it isn't preachy or stuffy in its presentation. There are violent action scenes and gore, but they are handled in a plot and character driven sense that didn't seem gratuitous. The fantasy world in which these characters live isn't too far from relatable reality, unlike many fantasy stories where the world is overly complicated. I look forward to the next chapters in this epic fantasy.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
dnf-s
April 6, 2018Review:
DNF 25%
So, not going to rate because I didn't finish it...
This book just never did grab me at all.
I was uninterested in the characters shortly after they were introduced, the plot didn't feel very thought out to me. It's written like it's part of a series, I skipped to the end to see I wanted to finish it, but I didn't see any other books on the author's Goodreads page.
I was never able to really picture the world, and the magic system I personally don't think was explained very well.
This book had potential, but everything just felt a little dull to me, nothing grabbed my attention. The characters, the world, the setting, the magic system, all of was just average to me.
DNF 25%
So, not going to rate because I didn't finish it...
This book just never did grab me at all.
I was uninterested in the characters shortly after they were introduced, the plot didn't feel very thought out to me. It's written like it's part of a series, I skipped to the end to see I wanted to finish it, but I didn't see any other books on the author's Goodreads page.
I was never able to really picture the world, and the magic system I personally don't think was explained very well.
This book had potential, but everything just felt a little dull to me, nothing grabbed my attention. The characters, the world, the setting, the magic system, all of was just average to me.
March 22, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman learns her destiny is far greater than she could have imagined in author David A. Wilson's Looking for Dei. A brand new YA Fantasy novel that is filled with magic, war torn countries and love, this brand new release is an amazing first novel in what I hope will become a full fledged series. Here is the synopsis:
Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.
A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.
From the books first page we get a glimpse into the complex and chaotic world of this incredible read. A society where religion is law and your station in life is determined by a dangerous coming of age ceremony, this whole society has their world turned upside down by the power one young woman wields. The relationship between Nara and those around her is powerful and emotional, drawing the reader in with their connection to one another and the lengths to which each of them will go to fight for one another. This story is a coming of age tale to be sure, filled with betrayal, sorcery and a journey of self discovery the likes of which you've never read before. The story is filled with twists and turns galore, and by books end you will be on the edge of your seat, praying to Dei himself that the next book will magically appear in your hands.
Overall I loved this book. I thought the story does a great job of showcasing not only the power we all have within ourselves to rise above ordinary and become extraordinary in our own way, but it showed the way completely unrelated strangers could becoming a loving and caring family. It proves that blood doesn't define you, but the bond you share with someone does. It's a wonderful entry into what sounds like a promising fantasy series, and the writing was expertly crafted to create an intriguing and emotional tale that showcases just how much the author has mastered the genre. If you haven't yet be sure to pick up your copy of Looking for Dei by David A. Wilson today!
A young woman learns her destiny is far greater than she could have imagined in author David A. Wilson's Looking for Dei. A brand new YA Fantasy novel that is filled with magic, war torn countries and love, this brand new release is an amazing first novel in what I hope will become a full fledged series. Here is the synopsis:
Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.
A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.
From the books first page we get a glimpse into the complex and chaotic world of this incredible read. A society where religion is law and your station in life is determined by a dangerous coming of age ceremony, this whole society has their world turned upside down by the power one young woman wields. The relationship between Nara and those around her is powerful and emotional, drawing the reader in with their connection to one another and the lengths to which each of them will go to fight for one another. This story is a coming of age tale to be sure, filled with betrayal, sorcery and a journey of self discovery the likes of which you've never read before. The story is filled with twists and turns galore, and by books end you will be on the edge of your seat, praying to Dei himself that the next book will magically appear in your hands.
Overall I loved this book. I thought the story does a great job of showcasing not only the power we all have within ourselves to rise above ordinary and become extraordinary in our own way, but it showed the way completely unrelated strangers could becoming a loving and caring family. It proves that blood doesn't define you, but the bond you share with someone does. It's a wonderful entry into what sounds like a promising fantasy series, and the writing was expertly crafted to create an intriguing and emotional tale that showcases just how much the author has mastered the genre. If you haven't yet be sure to pick up your copy of Looking for Dei by David A. Wilson today!
December 1, 2017
I received a copy of Looking for Dei by David A. Willson from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed this novel! The characters were nicely shaped; the plot was intriguing and fresh, yet easy to follow (wasn’t unnecessarily convoluted); and it quickly drew me in.
I quite enjoyed this novel! The characters were nicely shaped; the plot was intriguing and fresh, yet easy to follow (wasn’t unnecessarily convoluted); and it quickly drew me in.
January 9, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the story itself. I liked the message it tried to get across. I liked the religious aspects and the use of ruins and magic and the connections with the divine. My biggest issue is with the writing.
It's not bad, but it was very hard to follow at times and I couldn't get into the characters because of it.
The story opens with a beautiful scene of a 2-year old child playing in the field of an orphanage. The picture was very clear in my mind of her running and chasing butterflies, but something happens to the little girl (who we later learn is Nara) that is life-altering...and I didn't get the sense of urgency, the terror, or the reason for what happened.
The story jumps into the future by 15 years to our leading lady, Nara, who seems at times to be like she's 14, not seventeen. We don't learn until sometime later why the events happened to her when she was 2-years old, and the explanation seemed to fall a bit flat because the plot itself was a bit convoluted. Nara's reaction to the truth was almost nonexistent. I know if I found out what she found out, I would be livid. I would be demanding. I got a moment of surprise, but she seemed so accepting. It didn't feel 'right'.
This leads me to a second issue I had with the writing style. The book is written in several POVs, which I don't mind, but there were times within chapters when I was supposed to be in Nara's or Mykel's POV, but then I head-hopped into someone else's POV. It was jarring. As a reader, I tried to overlook it, but as an author, it drove me batty. The editor in me was very strong while reading this book. There were also cliches and info dumps where we learn so much stuff about the characters all at once. A few of these are okay, but sometimes it felt as I was being told everything instead of discovering it for myself. Also, sometimes I was left hanging after the introduction of characters, especially Gwyn. She arrives in Chapter 7, and I loved the mysteriousness about her. She comes across as this kick-butt warrior (think a female Aragorn/Strider) kind of girl...and then she disappears in Chapter 11 only to reappear briefly toward the ending of Chapter 14, and still, nothing happens. She's an 'observer' type of character. I was hoping to get some action, some plot building going, some interaction between her and Nara and Mykel and Bybo, but there was nothing. Instead, the author moves on to another chapter and introduces us to another character, Nikolas. I felt so bad for him. My heart tugged at the way his father treated him, but in the course of a couple of pages, he grew up and he became the Minister. It was almost as if I didn't have time to process it all. Of course, they all have a way of tying things up in the end, but initially, it was difficult at times to get through.
Toward the end of the book, the plot thickened and grew. The stakes became high and the reading grew a bit more intense. Overall, it had a satisfying ending, and Nara comes into her own and shows she is the heroine of this tale.
I will say the author has a way of making the story seem realistic. During the entire read, I knew where I was. I could see the realm, the castles, the lakes, the forests. I could feel the pain of the characters. I could smell the air. I could feel breezes on my face. I could feel the ground beneath my feet and experience the horrors no person should ever go through. That is a wonderful accomplishment in itself. The story was also a fairly quick read. I could have done so in one sitting if I'd had one day to do so, but I finished in two. There were plenty of twists and turns, and I think many teens would find this to be an enjoyable read.
I give it 3 stars. As I said, I liked the story but felt the writing could be tightened up a bit to make for a more intense, cohesive read.
It's not bad, but it was very hard to follow at times and I couldn't get into the characters because of it.
The story opens with a beautiful scene of a 2-year old child playing in the field of an orphanage. The picture was very clear in my mind of her running and chasing butterflies, but something happens to the little girl (who we later learn is Nara) that is life-altering...and I didn't get the sense of urgency, the terror, or the reason for what happened.
The story jumps into the future by 15 years to our leading lady, Nara, who seems at times to be like she's 14, not seventeen. We don't learn until sometime later why the events happened to her when she was 2-years old, and the explanation seemed to fall a bit flat because the plot itself was a bit convoluted. Nara's reaction to the truth was almost nonexistent. I know if I found out what she found out, I would be livid. I would be demanding. I got a moment of surprise, but she seemed so accepting. It didn't feel 'right'.
This leads me to a second issue I had with the writing style. The book is written in several POVs, which I don't mind, but there were times within chapters when I was supposed to be in Nara's or Mykel's POV, but then I head-hopped into someone else's POV. It was jarring. As a reader, I tried to overlook it, but as an author, it drove me batty. The editor in me was very strong while reading this book. There were also cliches and info dumps where we learn so much stuff about the characters all at once. A few of these are okay, but sometimes it felt as I was being told everything instead of discovering it for myself. Also, sometimes I was left hanging after the introduction of characters, especially Gwyn. She arrives in Chapter 7, and I loved the mysteriousness about her. She comes across as this kick-butt warrior (think a female Aragorn/Strider) kind of girl...and then she disappears in Chapter 11 only to reappear briefly toward the ending of Chapter 14, and still, nothing happens. She's an 'observer' type of character. I was hoping to get some action, some plot building going, some interaction between her and Nara and Mykel and Bybo, but there was nothing. Instead, the author moves on to another chapter and introduces us to another character, Nikolas. I felt so bad for him. My heart tugged at the way his father treated him, but in the course of a couple of pages, he grew up and he became the Minister. It was almost as if I didn't have time to process it all. Of course, they all have a way of tying things up in the end, but initially, it was difficult at times to get through.
Toward the end of the book, the plot thickened and grew. The stakes became high and the reading grew a bit more intense. Overall, it had a satisfying ending, and Nara comes into her own and shows she is the heroine of this tale.
I will say the author has a way of making the story seem realistic. During the entire read, I knew where I was. I could see the realm, the castles, the lakes, the forests. I could feel the pain of the characters. I could smell the air. I could feel breezes on my face. I could feel the ground beneath my feet and experience the horrors no person should ever go through. That is a wonderful accomplishment in itself. The story was also a fairly quick read. I could have done so in one sitting if I'd had one day to do so, but I finished in two. There were plenty of twists and turns, and I think many teens would find this to be an enjoyable read.
I give it 3 stars. As I said, I liked the story but felt the writing could be tightened up a bit to make for a more intense, cohesive read.
April 21, 2020
This book was fantastic! After the last two books I read, I have been itching to find something good. I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway, and I'm so glad I did! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I read the entire book in a week! I'm a slow reader, so that's a pretty good speed for me. I just couldn't put it down.
Nara and the other characters are so well written. They have flaws and are haunted by these flaws. Through these characters, we explore love in both a familial and romantic sense, moral obligations and the consequences of immense power.
Willson wraps this story with themes of nature vs. nurture, religion, and power. We see how a child is raised and their environment could affect their character. One sibling may turn to love and kindness when in doubt, another may seek power.
There are many references to religion throughout the book, but it's not preaching at the readers. I think it is more about being a good human being. Following the theme, the good characters are pious, while the evil characters are non-spiritual. However, Willson is careful to create doubt in the pious characters. Does Dei (god) really exist? How do we know?
As to the theme of power, Willson explores its effect on the characters and asks them (and the reader) questions. What does it mean to have power? Are there consequences to power?
In the beginning, the main characters start in their hometown, Dimmitt. The gift-testing ceremony reminded me a lot of Hunger Games, especially because the pace of both books are quick. As the crew travel (run for their lives) across the continent, their physical world opens and their emotional and spiritual world mirrors this. I enjoyed how the more they journeyed, the more the young characters (Nara and Mykel) matured.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes young adult and/or fantasy or just contemplating some of life's big questions. Willson writes purposefully, asking the reader to think about how we nurture children, religion, and power. I loved contemplating these issues with Willson and the characters. Furthermore, it was a quick read because with all the action, I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what happens next. Now, I just have to wait till the sequel comes out. Soon, please?
Nara and the other characters are so well written. They have flaws and are haunted by these flaws. Through these characters, we explore love in both a familial and romantic sense, moral obligations and the consequences of immense power.
Willson wraps this story with themes of nature vs. nurture, religion, and power. We see how a child is raised and their environment could affect their character. One sibling may turn to love and kindness when in doubt, another may seek power.
There are many references to religion throughout the book, but it's not preaching at the readers. I think it is more about being a good human being. Following the theme, the good characters are pious, while the evil characters are non-spiritual. However, Willson is careful to create doubt in the pious characters. Does Dei (god) really exist? How do we know?
As to the theme of power, Willson explores its effect on the characters and asks them (and the reader) questions. What does it mean to have power? Are there consequences to power?
In the beginning, the main characters start in their hometown, Dimmitt. The gift-testing ceremony reminded me a lot of Hunger Games, especially because the pace of both books are quick. As the crew travel (run for their lives) across the continent, their physical world opens and their emotional and spiritual world mirrors this. I enjoyed how the more they journeyed, the more the young characters (Nara and Mykel) matured.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes young adult and/or fantasy or just contemplating some of life's big questions. Willson writes purposefully, asking the reader to think about how we nurture children, religion, and power. I loved contemplating these issues with Willson and the characters. Furthermore, it was a quick read because with all the action, I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what happens next. Now, I just have to wait till the sequel comes out. Soon, please?
April 19, 2018
The answer to a prophecy. Tender to those around her. Deadly to her enemies.
Looking For Dei is a different type of Fantasy novel that allows us to watch the story unfold from all directions. We switch between the point of views of Nara and Mykel primarily, but there are a few scenes from their enemies' point of views (yes, multiple enemies) which I thought really heightened the tension. We were able to feel dread for what we knew was to come, even though where they were through most of the story didn't require a tight grip on the book.
The characters were incredibly developed and though I loved each of the protagonists, I was especially impressed with the villains of the story. Each was so unique and evil in their own ways that I found their motives and strengths very fascinating to read about. It also made Nara and Mykel's story that much more impressive to be able to handle confrontation with these characters.
I did find the book to be a little slow in the middle. We began the story with much action and ended with a phenomenal action scene, but the middle would have been almost uneventful if not for the point of view switches to the villains on their exploits. But regardless of the slower pace, there was much character development taken place and lots learned.
There was absolutely no cursing and no sexual scenes (only a few comments), but the action was decently high. Torture, abuse, fighting, and magic are all involved and some readers may not like this content.
Overall, it has been a long time since I've read a fantasy book that was this good! I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fantasy lovers everywhere!
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com review.
Looking For Dei is a different type of Fantasy novel that allows us to watch the story unfold from all directions. We switch between the point of views of Nara and Mykel primarily, but there are a few scenes from their enemies' point of views (yes, multiple enemies) which I thought really heightened the tension. We were able to feel dread for what we knew was to come, even though where they were through most of the story didn't require a tight grip on the book.
The characters were incredibly developed and though I loved each of the protagonists, I was especially impressed with the villains of the story. Each was so unique and evil in their own ways that I found their motives and strengths very fascinating to read about. It also made Nara and Mykel's story that much more impressive to be able to handle confrontation with these characters.
I did find the book to be a little slow in the middle. We began the story with much action and ended with a phenomenal action scene, but the middle would have been almost uneventful if not for the point of view switches to the villains on their exploits. But regardless of the slower pace, there was much character development taken place and lots learned.
There was absolutely no cursing and no sexual scenes (only a few comments), but the action was decently high. Torture, abuse, fighting, and magic are all involved and some readers may not like this content.
Overall, it has been a long time since I've read a fantasy book that was this good! I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fantasy lovers everywhere!
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com review.
October 10, 2024
This book was fantastic. I've seen some say it's a dark fantasy. I've seen some say it's a light hearted Fantasy. ( sounds like opposites ) But I do totally see both aspects in here. A little love, a little torture, and a lot of magic.
I can't believe it's been hiding in my TBR list for as long as it has been. This was amazing! My one little critique would be that this could have totally been made into one book. I like a little meat on my books (example: The Witching Hour: Anne Rice is totally up my ally!) But other than that, I can't think of any other real issues I had with this audiobook.
This even actually made me cry towards the end. (Just a few little tears 😭 😅). And I am dying to know what happens next. It's sad that there is 1 more book. I totally need more!!!
The narrator was also brilliant. I dont think I listened to a book by either the author or narrator before. But I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from both!! The ending was fantastic as well. Not a cliffhanger in a way that it would be frustrating to wait for book 2. But it definitely leaves you with a bunch of new information that makes you die to know what happens! This book is a solid A-. ALMOST an A. But I have a feeling book 2 will be even better!
I can't believe it's been hiding in my TBR list for as long as it has been. This was amazing! My one little critique would be that this could have totally been made into one book. I like a little meat on my books (example: The Witching Hour: Anne Rice is totally up my ally!) But other than that, I can't think of any other real issues I had with this audiobook.
This even actually made me cry towards the end. (Just a few little tears 😭 😅). And I am dying to know what happens next. It's sad that there is 1 more book. I totally need more!!!
The narrator was also brilliant. I dont think I listened to a book by either the author or narrator before. But I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from both!! The ending was fantastic as well. Not a cliffhanger in a way that it would be frustrating to wait for book 2. But it definitely leaves you with a bunch of new information that makes you die to know what happens! This book is a solid A-. ALMOST an A. But I have a feeling book 2 will be even better!
March 10, 2018
It is hard to take a classic fantasy trope and create a new twist. The idea of siblings, one good/ one bad, I can't say that I've read a book that involved conjoined twins, so I would say this author did just that. And he did it well. At first, I had no idea where this book was headed. The story unfolds between multiple POV's, with the majority of the story told from Nara's viewpoint. I enjoy a book like this. I also enjoy books with women in leadership roles. I think the author did a great job creating and developing his fantasy world. It read very realistically. This book had so many things that I like in books, but it had one big negative thing going for it and at times this made it hard to read. There were a lot of long narrative passages of backstory. Some chapters had no dialog. Because of this, I did skim some parts of this book. I don't think this is urban fantasy at all, but rather a nod to high fantasy. I think for a debut novel, the author shows strong ability and I think the backstory will be less in the subsequent books.
August 31, 2019
A wonderful YA story - very imaginative. This was a page turner for me. Recommended for those who love magical stories.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. I very much appreciate it.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. I very much appreciate it.
February 26, 2019
I received a copy of Looking for Dei by David A. Willson as part of a blog tour promoting the book.
With so much fantasy and magic elements woven into modern fiction, it can be difficult to find total originality. Telling a unique story from a brand new perspective is nearly impossible these days, so your best option is to take an amalgamation of your best or favourite elements to tell an interesting story. I think that’s what Looking for Dei attempted to do.
Though the title of the book might suggest a stronger religious or deity-driven story arc, I found that the search for Dei came in and out of focus throughout the story. By that, I mean the religious aspect of the plot was fairly absent for a portion of the journey. For a protagonist with a foreshadowed god-like prophecy, I found that Nara was a rather complacent heroine. Her actions don’t kickstart the plot, nor does she have a major hand in the main conflict of the story. She is established to have amazing abilities but with a few exceptions, we only see her use those abilities so that others can fight on her behalf. I would call her a Deus Ex Machina if she took more direct action in her own story.
If we were given more time inside his head, I would dare to call Mykel, the unwitting companion on Nara’s journey, the protagonist because he is more active in his own journey and is given a lot of hero markers: a destiny, a life-altering event, a training montage, a will-they-won’t-they romance, an enemy with multiple face-offs garnering a need for revenge. Mykel had some interesting moments that I wish were given more time and weight. Instead, we were treated to a sickening amount of exposition.
If I could sum up my frustration with this book in one sentence it’s that the balance between exposition/backstory and action was off. Admittedly, I had to go back and reread pages over again because I would get so bored reading about a character’s history that didn’t need to be laid out all at once. Say nothing of the information’s necessity, it felt like backstory was being dumped on the page for the sake of context for one conversation. It made the action scenes (whether physical or verbal sparring) feel short and cut off by comparison.
There were characters I would have loved to see explored more. Kayna, I felt had more to say or more of an impact – especially in the final moments. I was told of her ambitions and desires but I didn’t see it in practice or in thought as much as I could have.
I use my Random Notes While Reading to take you on a little thought journey of reading this book.
Well this is terrifyingly creepy
I like the use of an alternate time keeping acronym that isn’t so far from reality as to be confusing
Chronic pain depicted in fiction usually leads to destiny (edit: and is never brought up again)
Exposition fairy is paying a visit
Why wasn’t she tested earlier?
Wait. Did he tell her the truth? Amazing!
It seems so silly to lie so vehemently when you’ll be caught tomorrow
How has no one else figured it out?
Oh, lying priests is how
I feel disconnected from the author
There was a lot of information in the beginning and I clearly missed something
Please get to the point faster
You’re like the only teenage protagonist who didn’t do that
See what happens when you foster a child’s gifts: they become psychopaths. Wait…
So much backstory!
Oh so much as happened since then
I love a good psychopath
Symbolism!
Someone should tell him
Why are they stopping?!
Anne’s story has such a different energy from the previous exposition
The explanation is killing the tension
Damn, she has a conscience
Magical Montage
Aw, he’s HER guardian
I like the establishment of magical objects used to display the girls’ powers
Ooh good word
I didn’t see the shift but I know it happened
Not always
How cliché
Nice symbolism
Creepy. That’s just creepy
I kind of love it. I want more of him
Holy sh*t. Why didn’t we see THAT!
Am I just a sadist?
Oh boy!
Gods, now I get invested?
I’m not sure how I feel about the woman giving her power so the man can fight for her or because of her
Oh sh*t!
I’m not feeling the chaos battle
How useless
As the book progressed and backstory gave way to more action, I became more invested in the story and the characters but by then it was too late for me to really care about their victories and defeats. However, my desire to learn more about these characters and their journey leads me to believe that the story Looking for Dei is trying to tell is one worth reading. I was more disappointed in the execution than I was in the plot itself which is not meant as any consolation. Looking for Dei left me wanting more.
With so much fantasy and magic elements woven into modern fiction, it can be difficult to find total originality. Telling a unique story from a brand new perspective is nearly impossible these days, so your best option is to take an amalgamation of your best or favourite elements to tell an interesting story. I think that’s what Looking for Dei attempted to do.
Though the title of the book might suggest a stronger religious or deity-driven story arc, I found that the search for Dei came in and out of focus throughout the story. By that, I mean the religious aspect of the plot was fairly absent for a portion of the journey. For a protagonist with a foreshadowed god-like prophecy, I found that Nara was a rather complacent heroine. Her actions don’t kickstart the plot, nor does she have a major hand in the main conflict of the story. She is established to have amazing abilities but with a few exceptions, we only see her use those abilities so that others can fight on her behalf. I would call her a Deus Ex Machina if she took more direct action in her own story.
If we were given more time inside his head, I would dare to call Mykel, the unwitting companion on Nara’s journey, the protagonist because he is more active in his own journey and is given a lot of hero markers: a destiny, a life-altering event, a training montage, a will-they-won’t-they romance, an enemy with multiple face-offs garnering a need for revenge. Mykel had some interesting moments that I wish were given more time and weight. Instead, we were treated to a sickening amount of exposition.
If I could sum up my frustration with this book in one sentence it’s that the balance between exposition/backstory and action was off. Admittedly, I had to go back and reread pages over again because I would get so bored reading about a character’s history that didn’t need to be laid out all at once. Say nothing of the information’s necessity, it felt like backstory was being dumped on the page for the sake of context for one conversation. It made the action scenes (whether physical or verbal sparring) feel short and cut off by comparison.
There were characters I would have loved to see explored more. Kayna, I felt had more to say or more of an impact – especially in the final moments. I was told of her ambitions and desires but I didn’t see it in practice or in thought as much as I could have.
I use my Random Notes While Reading to take you on a little thought journey of reading this book.
Well this is terrifyingly creepy
I like the use of an alternate time keeping acronym that isn’t so far from reality as to be confusing
Chronic pain depicted in fiction usually leads to destiny (edit: and is never brought up again)
Exposition fairy is paying a visit
Why wasn’t she tested earlier?
Wait. Did he tell her the truth? Amazing!
It seems so silly to lie so vehemently when you’ll be caught tomorrow
How has no one else figured it out?
Oh, lying priests is how
I feel disconnected from the author
There was a lot of information in the beginning and I clearly missed something
Please get to the point faster
You’re like the only teenage protagonist who didn’t do that
See what happens when you foster a child’s gifts: they become psychopaths. Wait…
So much backstory!
Oh so much as happened since then
I love a good psychopath
Symbolism!
Someone should tell him
Why are they stopping?!
Anne’s story has such a different energy from the previous exposition
The explanation is killing the tension
Damn, she has a conscience
Magical Montage
Aw, he’s HER guardian
I like the establishment of magical objects used to display the girls’ powers
Ooh good word
I didn’t see the shift but I know it happened
Not always
How cliché
Nice symbolism
Creepy. That’s just creepy
I kind of love it. I want more of him
Holy sh*t. Why didn’t we see THAT!
Am I just a sadist?
Oh boy!
Gods, now I get invested?
I’m not sure how I feel about the woman giving her power so the man can fight for her or because of her
Oh sh*t!
I’m not feeling the chaos battle
How useless
As the book progressed and backstory gave way to more action, I became more invested in the story and the characters but by then it was too late for me to really care about their victories and defeats. However, my desire to learn more about these characters and their journey leads me to believe that the story Looking for Dei is trying to tell is one worth reading. I was more disappointed in the execution than I was in the plot itself which is not meant as any consolation. Looking for Dei left me wanting more.
May 24, 2018
"She walked slowly, not because of her fatigue but rather to calm her anxious heart. For tomorrow's announcement may very well unveil the secret she had been keeping for years."
THOUGHTS
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel. This in no way sways my review or opinion of the novel.
In a world where having magical abilities is the ultimate decision factor of a person’s fate, the day of the announcement ceremony is not the most highly anticipated occasion for the young youths who must undergo this trial. But when Nara must choose between hiding her abilities or to save a life, her world turns upside down and brings her on an epic quest.
A world-building novel that draws upon the fine line between light and dark, Willson’s novel dares to explore the boundaries that many fantasy novels refuse to enter and opens up a new world like none before.
THE PROS
The Plot is Unique
As I began reading Willson’s novel, I realized almost instantly how unique this YA novel truly is. I’ve read a number of fantasy books, but there was something about Willson’s that made it so much more extraordinary. There are certain elements that are commonly found in most fantasy novels, yet Willson still found a way to make it an original. The type of magic within the novel is one example, for I found it rather exotic and a foreign to Western culture...this was certainly a breath of fresh air.
Good and Evil isn't "Black and White"
Time and time again, I start reading novels and grow utterly disappointed that there’s this “cookie-cutter” thinking of GOOD and EVIL...Willson’s novel DID NOT disappoint in this regard. The “good” characters commit some heinous crimes, and the “bad” characters experience moments of enlightenment and clarity on a more righteous path. There are some characters that are very clearly good OR evil, but that’s to be expected and it didn’t take away from the overall feel of the novel.
THE WOES
No Connection with the Characters
Character-driven readers, such as myself, may be disappointed with the connection and bond to Willson’s multitude of characters in the novel. There wasn’t a necessary love or hate for them, but their fates and decisions didn’t really affect me. What’s worse is I felt this with the main characters as well. This could possibly be due to the story feeling rather rushed and the language being descriptive but not intriguing.
“Matter-of-fact” dialogue and language
The language and dialogue throughout the novel felt incredibly dull and mundane, which may be the reason that I felt little to no connection with the characters; in my personal opinion, the key to an “eye-grabbing” novel is the language. Willson’s language wasn’t confusing or horrid whatsoever; the issue I have is that the dialogue felt very “simple”, something that I would’ve expected from a 9 to 12 years range novel. Additionally, the non-dialogue portions of the novel didn’t put me in a state of “awe” or “wonder” or “desire” to be a part of the universe. It felt “practical” and “factual”. I also found a few spelling and grammatical errors, though these may have been edited in the final version before publication.
Story and character discovery = TOO FAST
In Looking for Dei, there’s NO gradual progression when learning about the characters; readers are basically given the entire background of the character in the first encounter, leaving no room for mystery and hinders on character development. This also overloaded me with information, which does NOT appeal to me, especially in a series based novel. The story felt very similar - rather than small peak into the plot, we’re given PILE of information, leaving me a little confused and disoriented.
A lot “how did that happen” moments
Even though Willson gives us a TON of information very early in the novel, there’s still these “how did that happen” moments...the moments where you have no idea how the story jumped from A to B or character A was able to do that “thing” they weren’t able to before.
OVERALL
Unique and authentic, Willson’s Looking for Dei is a YA novel that introduces a new way of exploring the realm of fantasy and magic. Though the character development and story progression fell short, I feel as though there’s a lot of potential to this new series. If you’re a character and language driven reader, this may not be your cup of tea. HOWEVER, if you’re a story oriented reader and lover of the fantasy genre looking to try a new series, this may be for you.
Little to No Spoilers
THOUGHTS
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel. This in no way sways my review or opinion of the novel.
In a world where having magical abilities is the ultimate decision factor of a person’s fate, the day of the announcement ceremony is not the most highly anticipated occasion for the young youths who must undergo this trial. But when Nara must choose between hiding her abilities or to save a life, her world turns upside down and brings her on an epic quest.
A world-building novel that draws upon the fine line between light and dark, Willson’s novel dares to explore the boundaries that many fantasy novels refuse to enter and opens up a new world like none before.
THE PROS
The Plot is Unique
As I began reading Willson’s novel, I realized almost instantly how unique this YA novel truly is. I’ve read a number of fantasy books, but there was something about Willson’s that made it so much more extraordinary. There are certain elements that are commonly found in most fantasy novels, yet Willson still found a way to make it an original. The type of magic within the novel is one example, for I found it rather exotic and a foreign to Western culture...this was certainly a breath of fresh air.
Good and Evil isn't "Black and White"
Time and time again, I start reading novels and grow utterly disappointed that there’s this “cookie-cutter” thinking of GOOD and EVIL...Willson’s novel DID NOT disappoint in this regard. The “good” characters commit some heinous crimes, and the “bad” characters experience moments of enlightenment and clarity on a more righteous path. There are some characters that are very clearly good OR evil, but that’s to be expected and it didn’t take away from the overall feel of the novel.
THE WOES
No Connection with the Characters
Character-driven readers, such as myself, may be disappointed with the connection and bond to Willson’s multitude of characters in the novel. There wasn’t a necessary love or hate for them, but their fates and decisions didn’t really affect me. What’s worse is I felt this with the main characters as well. This could possibly be due to the story feeling rather rushed and the language being descriptive but not intriguing.
“Matter-of-fact” dialogue and language
The language and dialogue throughout the novel felt incredibly dull and mundane, which may be the reason that I felt little to no connection with the characters; in my personal opinion, the key to an “eye-grabbing” novel is the language. Willson’s language wasn’t confusing or horrid whatsoever; the issue I have is that the dialogue felt very “simple”, something that I would’ve expected from a 9 to 12 years range novel. Additionally, the non-dialogue portions of the novel didn’t put me in a state of “awe” or “wonder” or “desire” to be a part of the universe. It felt “practical” and “factual”. I also found a few spelling and grammatical errors, though these may have been edited in the final version before publication.
Story and character discovery = TOO FAST
In Looking for Dei, there’s NO gradual progression when learning about the characters; readers are basically given the entire background of the character in the first encounter, leaving no room for mystery and hinders on character development. This also overloaded me with information, which does NOT appeal to me, especially in a series based novel. The story felt very similar - rather than small peak into the plot, we’re given PILE of information, leaving me a little confused and disoriented.
A lot “how did that happen” moments
Even though Willson gives us a TON of information very early in the novel, there’s still these “how did that happen” moments...the moments where you have no idea how the story jumped from A to B or character A was able to do that “thing” they weren’t able to before.
OVERALL
Unique and authentic, Willson’s Looking for Dei is a YA novel that introduces a new way of exploring the realm of fantasy and magic. Though the character development and story progression fell short, I feel as though there’s a lot of potential to this new series. If you’re a character and language driven reader, this may not be your cup of tea. HOWEVER, if you’re a story oriented reader and lover of the fantasy genre looking to try a new series, this may be for you.
March 30, 2018
Looking for Dei has a lot of great world building. Not only do we get some beautiful descriptions of the places we visit, there's an emphasis on history, religion and a strong magic system thats easy to understand. We also don't have the typical blind faith in religion that fantasy books often portray, there's doubt from some characters. Plus, some characters out right deny their faith in the god they are 'supposed' to worship. The same goes for the magic system, which is used very differently between characters. Even those with similar intentions seem to have their own nuances when using their powers.
The problem with all this world building was that sometimes Wilson was overly descriptive. There were a few times where information was just dumped into a few paragraphs, and I wish this could have been more integrated within the story. There was also a lot of talking between characters to explain things, which is fine when done in small amounts. But sometimes it was too much in one time from one character.
The different POV's did help bring other views to the book, outside of Nara's. This was good for a few reasons. I personally didn't like Nara, and didn't find her to be a strong character. She spent most of her time being babied and protected by male characters. When she does eventually get strong enough to protect herself and loved ones, I could argue that she was then overpowered. Which may be problematic for the next book in the series.
The POV of Vorrick was great as we got to see what the antagonist was planning to do. But he was made into a character that we are meant to feel sympathetic towards. This was difficult as later on he seems to just be an 'evil' person who only cares for power. His backstory is sad but his actions make him into the bad guy very clearly. He's not exactly a morally grey person. I did enjoy that he had insecurities and fears as the bad guy and we got to see this as a reader.
I also found that the ended dragged on and on a bit. It was an ending, and then another ending, and then a little epilogue kind of finish. I get that it was made to wrap up some finishing plot points and to lead on to the next book, but at that point I was completely ready for the book to end.
Overall, I think the book is a fun read, but it does have quite a few issues that you would expect from a debut. I would recommend to any fantasy fans as it's a great world, but it's a short book and couldn't be classed as a high or epic fantasy read.
POSITIVES
+ Different POV's including antagonists
+ World building and magic system
NEGATIVES
– Ending dragged
– Poor character building
I received Looking for Dei by David A Wilson from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review
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