This is the first book that I have read by author Whitney Rines, so I must admit that I was a little unsure of what to expect at first while starting the book. But that being said, and having now finished the read, I can definitely say that the book turned out to not only give me a great first impression, but also went way above and beyond my initial expectations. As well as this, even though there were a few scenes that I felt moved a bit slow and could benefit from some further editing, I can still say that the writing style managed to keep me hooked essentially from the very beginning, and overall the book moves with quite a strong momentum – it’s immersive enough that I would even personally recommend this to readers who have a few hours to spare as I imagine many fans of the genre will have a hard time putting the book down after beginning.
I dare not give away any spoilers but I will mention that I think one of the most interesting things about the book is how the author managed to give the mortals certain attributes that even the powerful immortals could not possess, and in certain instances even envied. There’s a strong contrast between both the immortals and the mortals that really stood out to me, they truly emphasize each other which in turn, in my opinion, stands as a strong testament to the author’s ability to craft dynamic, complex, and three-dimensional characters that are clearly well-thought-out.
For example, some immortals empathize and admire the mortals – while others completely disregarded them or even thought that they were worthless. This reminded me of Greek mythology, which I suspect is where the author gained some of her inspiration from, where some gods treated humans with respect and even in cases walked among them and procreated (not dissimilar to certain scenes in the book and Fayet’s character arc).
In an attempt to put it briefly, “Pearls of Time” is a creative, imaginative, and at times very bold and experimental type of read – even by the fantasy genre’s standards. It’s clear to me that the author has a passion for the genre because it truly shows through the well-refined nature of the writing style. I recommend this read to any fantasy lovers who are looking for a refreshingly unique addition to the genre that also stays true to the classic elements that make it so good in the first place. Very well done.