Child of Light, written by Terry Brooks, is a great piece of literature. The novel follows Auris, the main character, as she navigates her journey of self-discovery and overcomes different obstacles, uncovering secrets about her family and her identity. The text itself is full of mystery and suspense; for example, the story begins with Auris in prison with no recollection of why she is there. Brooks is also known as the author of the Shannarah Chronicles, a book series so popular and beloved by fantasy readers that it was adapted into a TV show. He began writing the Chronicles over forty years ago, having started in 1977, and Child of Light has been greatly awaited by his fans, as it is his first published book after concluding the Shannarah Chronicles. There was much speculation concerning the book and whether the writer would attempt something new, departing from the type of writing that characterized his previous work. In fact, Brooks stated in an interview that he did attempt to show that he can successfully do something different, for example, using the first person and writing directly from the perspective of the main character. The reader discovers the world through Auris’ eyes; the story is not narrated through an omniscient perspective which I appreciated and made the reading more personal. We witness her emotional turmoil and struggle with her emotions, slowly learning about her past and identity. The reader cannot help but assimilate Auris’ perceptions of other characters and what she thinks about the world around her, which makes it a lot easier for subsequent narrative twists and turns. The novel is thrilling, and just as soon as we think that we are learning the whole truth about Auris, new information adds another twist to the story. She is deceived by those close to her and she has to fight to learn the truth about her past.
Brooks also revealed his objective to draw the reader in from the very first line with an incredibly dramatic beginning. The book immediately starts off with the character’s prison break: “We break out at midnight, just as we agreed. Like ghosts risen from our graves to reclaim the lives that were stolen from us, we flee” (p. 3). The author does not give us the time to ease into the action and the narrative. We live through Auris’ fear and anticipation as she attempts the dangerous escape. Though, the plot slows after the prison break, allowing us to learn more about the main character and witness the development of her bond with her rescuer, Harrow. This portion is a bit slow, but once the plot picks up again, it is impossible to let go of the book. The storyline is romantic and emotional. It is also, however, a tale of empowerment, and I really enjoyed witnessing Auris’ progressive mastery of her supernatural abilities. My favorite part of the book was the chapters towards the end when Auris’ quest to discover her origins culminates in a monumental battle between the Fae and human world. Auris has to use all the skills she has developed since the beginning of the novel to protect the new Fae realm she has come to love.
All of the characters, especially Harrow’s family, are very likeable. I loved the way the author went into detail about each character’s personalities, articulating what makes all of them unique and special. Most of the main characters are female, which was refreshing and surprising. I liked the aspect of Auris as a strong female lead. She rescues Harrow from imprisonment and takes her fate into her own hands, choosing to sacrifice her freedom so that he may be safe. I also really enjoyed seeing the progression in the two characters’ relationship. Terry Brooks is undoubtedly a master at storytelling and he successfully creates a complex world inhabited by Fae, goblins, and humans. The book was incredibly easy to read. One minor observation was that at rare points in the novel, certain sentences created somewhat rigid transitions from one paragraph to the next. This is perhaps an effort by the author to respect the formal language used by most characters even in his narration. In any case, Child of Light could certainly be the start of another staple series. The author leaves the characters on an optimistic note, yet, there also remains many unresolved questions; for example, we still do not know why Auris was in prison in the first place. I also think there is a lot of potential for a sequel, as we still have much to learn about Harrow’s identity. The book very rarely discusses his past and omits any information about his biological family. Furthermore, there is also the opportunity to explore the plotlines of the many different characters. I would recommend this novel to any lover of fantasy and admirer of Brooks’ previous work. The quality of his writing is consistent and unparalleled, and I hope you will fall in love with Child of Light’s characters just as I have.
Comments