BEST FANTASY 2019, INDIES TODAY“A richly conceived fantasy with a grand emotional payoff” – Kirkus Reviews“With quirky characters and exciting scenes of adventure, Sorrowfish is a fantastical novel that hits all the right notes.” – Indies TodayTwo Worlds. One Fate.A bard. A wizard…and a college student from Kentucky.Sara Moore is having crazy dreams. Gryphon and dragon crazy. The scary part? … crazy dreams. Gryphon and dragon crazy. The scary part? Waking up, with scratches and splinters. Is she losing it because of stress? Her twin sister is in a coma. One more unfinished sculpture will fully tank her grades. Goodbye bachelor’s degree, hello failure.
It’s enough to make anyone sleepwalk.
Choosing to defy the Conclave, Trystan risks capture and mind control to find a magical lute through a shadow network. Dane meets a sinister stranger and barely escapes with his life. Together, guided by a fae only known as Sara, they will end an ancient curse …or die trying.
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Realities collide as art student Sara experiences a series of dreams that over time become more and more real. Though her present, “real” world is filled with guilt, frustration, and sorrow, her dreams link her an alternate reality where she meets a gifted craftsman, Dane. In time, the alternate reality proves to be as real as the Kentucky Sara left behind.
Years earlier, Dane’s world had been shattered when the Storm King was reportedly killed, and his ancient “Song” corrupted and outlawed. Now run by a perverse, iron-fisted “church,” Dane’s world is besieged by dark shadows and the corruption is growing stronger. Anyone suspected of being “Dewin” (a music mage) who can touch and use the broken “Song” is accused of Dissonance and arrested, imprisoned, and brainwashed or killed.
Dane and Trystan, a bard, believe the Storm King is not dead. With faith in the Storm King’s living presence, they touch the forbidden “Song” using its power for creation and healing. Hunted by the controlling power structure, they and their friends are forced to run.
When Dane grounds Sara in his world, her appearance triggers hope, but can Sara help them restore the lost faith and harmony?
Sorrowfish is a masterfully written story. The pacing is excellent as is the character development. The worldbuilding is unique, well established, and relatable. I am not a musician, but I suspect those who understand music will find this series even more appealing. The idea of creating through the power of song is compelling.
Sorrowfish is one of the best Christian fantasies I have read in a long time. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next book in this series and strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, Christian fantasy, or just a well-written, engaging story.
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Sorrowfish (The Call of the Lorica)
Author: Anne C. Miles
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 17 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
14 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A slow start but gets much better. An enjoyable fantasy adventure, rather gritty in parts, with strong, interesting characters. Sadly, the cover’s a bit messy with way too much going on for the eye to focus on.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘I suspect anybody with musical interests might find this a particularly intriguing magical story. A mix of fantasy world/this world, this is a complex story full of wonderfully strange characters. The author’s imagination is superb, offering adults and old young adults a very entertaining read.’ Female reader, aged 43
‘A good sprinkling of humor in this exciting fantasy adventure based around the power of song. Although it’s confusing in parts and starts with a clumsy first chapter, there’s much going for it. The author knows her characters and develops them well in the story. Also, the ending is satisfying and enjoyable. Possibly the cover needs reworking and simplifying. Liked it!’ Female reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted fantasy adventure sprinkled with interesting characters and topped with a little humor.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Great Story
Miles pens a great story in Sorrowfish. One thing I like about fantasy books is the creative names for characters and beings. This story was very well put together, and I enjoyed embarking on this journey with Sara. Miles shows the audience these creative worlds, and brings the reader in. It’s a great paced story, and has wonderfully developed characters. It is not always easy to determine good versus evil, but it shows the unpredictability of the story. This is the first book of Miles’s that I’ve read, and I look forward to reading more by this author.