Hey, everybody! Welcome back to Tumnus’ Bookshelf, where we review any and all books written by, about, and inspired by CS Lewis, The Land of Narnia, and The Inklings. For today’s review, we will be looking at Lisa R. Mayer’s new book The Aletheian Journeys: Book One: The Arrow Bringer.
TITLE: Aletheian Journeys: Book One: The Arrow Bringer
AUTHOR: Lisa R. Mayer
PUBLISHER: Emerged Books: an imprint of Write Integrity Press
ISBN-10: 1944120807
ISBN-13: 978-19441208
SUMMARY:
At first, high school student Evengeline “Evie” Lewis was only worried about the normal things a high school student was worried about. Then came the day her life was turned upside down in more ways then one. A trip to the doctor revealed that she had terminal cancer forcing her to rethink what she believes will be the remainder of her days. That is when The Arrow Bringer appears to her, urging her to come and help save the world of Alethia.
She learned that this was the world she came from and that the desperately needed her help. When she refuses, it comes at personal cost as her friend Shawn agrees to go in her place. Now, Evie embarks on a journey to save a world, her friend, and perhaps even herself.
REVIEW:
A key motif in any fantasy novel is the brief moment where the main character refuses the call to action. Every character we love, be it the Pevensies, Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, Luke Skywalker, or Harry Potter briefly considers refusing their call to action. It lasts only for a while but soon, often times through an emotional catalyst they embark on their journey, but never see any full ramifications of the refusal. In Lisa R. Mayer’s new novel The Arrow Bringer, book one in her Aletheian Journeys series, at last we have a fantasy novel that explores the ramifications of the hero ( or heroine) refusing the call as not only the land the heroine is called to protect but a dear friend are placed in even deeper danger.
Grounding fantasy is tricky, but The Arrow Bringer begins with one of the biggest kickers any person can receive as the main character, Evangeline Lewis, or Evie to her friends, learns that she has terminal cancer. It’s something that even with all our advanced medical knowledge we may now possess is still one of the harshest bits of news someone can receive, regardless of age. It forces a person to consider the time they have left and make different choices then they normally would, and deeply affects all those close to them. In the case of Evie, she was about to apply for colleges and was developing a crush on a boy in a class but now all that is upended, and visiting a world of fantasy was the last thing she thought could happen.
Thus, every decision, or in decision, that Evangeline makes hinges upon this truth. While she knows that the world of Aletheia is peril, her own body is waging war with itself. However, when she does decide to go, the journey proves more beneficial for her as she learns more about herself, her past, and her family. She is forced to open up to others, despite wanting to be alone to deal with her truths, and in the process not only forges deep bonds with the friends she makes along the way but with Shawn, the boy from her class with whom she has a crush.
When Evie refuses to journey to Aletheia, it’s Shawn who steps up to accept the call to action. While we are used to the “Chosen One” narrative in fantasy and science fiction, the fact t hat The Arrow Bringer chooses someone else is based on biblical principles, such as when Mordecai assures Esther that if she doesn’t chose to take a stand help and deliverance may come from somewhere else. Reminiscent of Calvin O’Keefe in A Wrinkle in Time, he’s smart, friendly, caring and it’s easy to see why she is so taken by him. More importantly he is written as well rounded and compelling as Evie. You care about both of them and their journey and want them to work out their problems and save this world.
However, they are not the true deliverers of this world. That lies in a mysterious man named Justus, the Arrow Bringer in the flesh, to save not only the world of Aletheia from themselves. It’s through Justus that Evie and Shawn can find peace and healing not only from any physical adversaries they face, but from the pain of their past. This makes their journey not only one to save a fantasy world but of spiritual renewal.
Evie’s story is mirrored in that of Jairo, and with her birth father Baeden. Both surrendered to pain and grief after the death of Evie’s biological twin sister and thus felt like the Arrow Bringer abandoned them. While you can understand and sympathize with their choices as vile as they are, and yearn for them to find hope and peace, the fact remains that these choices but their whole world in peril. This raises the stakes considerably for the story and shows just why Shawn and Evie need to help save this world and creates an even greater dilemma for Evie as while she would love to be with her family on Earth as she is dying, she has a duty as the princess of Aletheia to save this world.
Leading the forces of evil and trying to do everything to lead the heroes and heroines to his side is the Dark Lord Kotu ruler of the kingdom of Thanatos. It is under his power that dragons besiege ravage this world since he tricked Evie’s father to destroying the arrow given to them by the Arrow Bringer that would protect their kingdom. He’s sly, he’s cunning, he knows how to hit each one of them where they hurt the most.
Mayer frames her story in a first person narrative perspective through Evie. We feel the weight of the two burdens she bares with her diagnosis of cancer, and with saving the world of Aletheia even more. We see that many of the choices she makes all hinge on her diagnosis and her desire to avoid hurting those close to her, only to create more problems in the pass. Thus, we rage with her, he mourn with her, and we even hope with her along the way.
The Alethian Journeys Book One: The Arrow Bringer is a really solid first installment to this new series. The heroes are flawed and relatable, and antagonists sympathetic, and their struggles feel poignant through it all there is grace in abundance to save them. A wonderful story with a good reminder that we don’t have to be bound by the mistakes of our past and that even those moments can be redeemed in the end.
4 1/2 out of 5 shields
Buy the book on Amazon.