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Encraty: Mystery of the Silver Panflute
A young teenage boy wakes up with amnesia. He has no memory of who he was or who took his memory. He partakes in a hero's quest to realize his true identity in what seems like a past life. On his journey, he meets new friends and encounters various artifacts that help him restore pieces of his memories. Among these is the legendary Silver Panflute, which holds a special unique power. These artifacts help him and his friends overcome many foes, including the Dozers, a malicious organization built directly to prevent them from remembering. Will he regain his memory in time to get the Silver Panflute and stop the Dozers? Or will he become lost in the sauce of forgetfulness? Join Devonte, Allen, Monique, Ivan, and Savannah in the Encraty.
188 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 5, 2020
First novels by an author tend to be learning experiences. Hopefully that is what this one is. As a retired school teacher who taught reading and writing for 31 years, I need to put on my writing-teacher hat for this.
There are several things the author needs to keep in mind for the rewrite of this novel or for the next one.
1. Avoid unnecessary or distracting details. Early in the story they are using a table that is described as, "...a table made of refurbished wood and had a fresh coat of clear gloss, protecting it from scratches and damage..." At no point in the story does the reader need to know this about the table, and it is not something that the character looking at it would seize on as what he is seeing. Details should be used for establishing setting with a few key details, developing the characters, or moving the plot forward. Wasted details only confuse the reader.
2. Scenes are supposed to be focused on moving the plot forward. At one point the narrative tells how the characters are waiting for a flight in the airport, not together to talk about things relative to the plot or their own personal stories, but simply going to the restroom, buying food and other junk, and wasting time. The whole scene could have been summed up in one sentence, or used to insert relevant exposition about plot or character.
3. First novels are often done in first person point of view for a good reason. This novel has no point-of-view focus. We go in and out of different characters' heads to see what they are thinking and we end up confused about who is saying and thinking and believing what? This story would've been much more effective if Devonte had told the whole story since he is the main character and the one dealing with the memory loss.
The premise of the story is basically good, and with some careful rewriting the novel could be much better than just okay. I hope to see more of this author's work as he learns and develops.
There are several things the author needs to keep in mind for the rewrite of this novel or for the next one.
1. Avoid unnecessary or distracting details. Early in the story they are using a table that is described as, "...a table made of refurbished wood and had a fresh coat of clear gloss, protecting it from scratches and damage..." At no point in the story does the reader need to know this about the table, and it is not something that the character looking at it would seize on as what he is seeing. Details should be used for establishing setting with a few key details, developing the characters, or moving the plot forward. Wasted details only confuse the reader.
2. Scenes are supposed to be focused on moving the plot forward. At one point the narrative tells how the characters are waiting for a flight in the airport, not together to talk about things relative to the plot or their own personal stories, but simply going to the restroom, buying food and other junk, and wasting time. The whole scene could have been summed up in one sentence, or used to insert relevant exposition about plot or character.
3. First novels are often done in first person point of view for a good reason. This novel has no point-of-view focus. We go in and out of different characters' heads to see what they are thinking and we end up confused about who is saying and thinking and believing what? This story would've been much more effective if Devonte had told the whole story since he is the main character and the one dealing with the memory loss.
The premise of the story is basically good, and with some careful rewriting the novel could be much better than just okay. I hope to see more of this author's work as he learns and develops.
September 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this read. It has a diverse range of characters, very modern, unheard of from most books of the past. The story was unique and you could feel the passion within each chapter. Black, Vietnamese, British, and even Irish-American characters working together? I look forward to more books like this.
September 12, 2020
A great diverse read! Picked this up and couldn't put it down. The storyline was fast-paced and very descriptive. A great level of diction and was very well-written. It was perfectly set up for a sequel. I can't wait for more from this series. Loved it and would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews