“FLESH AND SPIRIT” BY CAROL BERG
“In the land torn apart by civil war, pestilence, and shaky alliances, a man branded traitor may be the world’s only hope…” reads the back cover of the book, thus catching your attention long enough to skim through the short summary of what the story entails. And you’re caught in the world of sorceress, princes, monks (who are all but simple), and magical creatures (all but elusive to the human eye) that walk the earth.
Thus, you meet Valen—the rebellious son of a long line of pureblood cartographers and diviners, who wants nothing to do with neither his family nor his foretold destiny. When barely alive Valen finds his way to a monastery hoping for a sanctuary to survive the coming winter, he soon finds himself in the middle of a struggle between forces beyond his comprehension, all seeking answers to unlock the mysteries of the coming dark age. To save his country and his unexpected friends Valen must face his daunting past and find answers to the questions he’d rather not ask.
“Flesh and Spirit” is more than a fantasy novel. It reminds me of the Tolkien trilogy with its own world and creatures that exists only in the pages of the book. The story is perfectly written in a beautiful language that is a treat in itself (as always a pleasure to read something that challenges you as much as entertains) and the events are masterfully woven into the pages so to engross the reader from the very first page to the very last, leaving you gasping and stunned.
This novel is a first part of a two-volume series and the conclusion of “Flesh and Spirit” comes much too soon and leaves the reader bewildered, heart pounding, wishing for more…
So if you want an incredible adventure into the world of magic, gods and mystical creatures, pick up a copy of Carol Berg’s novel but makes sure that you’ll have an easy access to part two to this remarkable story or you’ll be left searching in all possible places for “Breath and Bone” to continue reading about Valen’s quest (just like I am…)