Alyssa

by Keri A. Kitson

From Keri A. Kitson, the prequel to the Estrel series… This chronicle of the life of Alyssa Jade Jeremieu Shulto de Tierney leads from her privileged beginning as the daughter of the Mage King and his Consort to her inconspicuous latter years disguised as the wife of a country merchant. As Alyssa faces her past that is fraught with danger, she learns that choices can sometimes lead to redemption.

75 pages, Paperback

Published March 6, 2019

Reviews

[Gabrielle Jacob]

“Alyssa” is a fair attempt from the artistic Kitson. Having dived into the book rather open mindedly and without prior knowledge of the sequel, “Estrel”, I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied by the piece’s ability to impress in its own right. Throughout the book, the reader takes a journey into the tangled past and present of the titular character, through the illustrative journal entries read by her daughter Delia. One comes to understand the nature of Alyssa’s love for her daughters as well as how it affects their current trials as adults.
While the story starts off generally slow paced, it is easy to be hooked at a particular point, as the plot thickens and we learn of the difficult choices that Delia, like her mother before her, has faced. Kitson’s descriptive abilities paint a picture that allows one to vividly experience Delia and Alyssa’s trials, and the story telling method of journal entries does well to have one feel exactly what Alyssa feels in key moments.
The brief references to various elements of Trinidadian and external culture were an innovative touch, however often felt a bit out of touch with the mystical world that the story is set in.
Apart from one or two misfires, Alyssa delivers and leaves the reader deeply curious as to what happens next, thus earning a 3 star score.