The Penitent: Part I by A. Keith Carreiro
The Penitent: Part I
by A. Keith Carreiro
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Ratings 4.5/5
Synopsis
The Penitent: Part I by Keith Carreiro is a sprawling sci-fi fantasy novel. It also has a healthy dash of horror, war, and tragedy. Needless to say, it is a little bit intense but it is a satisfying and well-told story. It is about Pall Warren, an ostracized young man who does not know why he is doomed to live on the outskirts of life. Yet he makes peace with this and continues his difficult existence. Slowly, his background is revealed to us, and Pall finds meaning in his journey to find the truth. He pairs up with a mysterious archer, John Savage and the two form an uneasy but loyal partnership.
"Pall lives a tough life and it was difficult to read about his daily pain and struggle, almost as terrible as his past. He has a lot of grit and moral strength, and manages to navigate life with his head held high. John is, as they say, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. I found his parts very entertaining as he was a droll and captivating character- probably my favorite. Towards the end, Evangel is also briefly mentioned- I'm very interested to know what part she plays in Pall's life.
"The story starts off slow and doesn't shy away from laying out the atrocities and horror of Pall's life. Some parts are gruesome, violent, and downright depressing but I think those parts were important in forming Pall. They may seem gratuitous, but as the story developed, I could see that this is what made Pall a consistent and strong character. The author brilliantly displays the psychology of people amidst war. The ruthlessness, and ultimately, pointlessness of political struggles seemed to be the root of evil to me.
My Thoughts
This was a very exciting and well written book. I admit it. I wasn't expecting much from this book. It hails from a small independent publisher. And you know how that can be.
The Penitent is exactly the type of story I want to read. A fantasy world that causes you to look on reality with fresh eyes. Like our world, the world The Penitent inhabits is brutal and violent. People are evil and self-interested. But here and there little cracks of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful appear and begin to grow.
This was one of the better if not once of the best books I've read this year. It might not be for everyone. The battle scenes are brutal and some of the religious undertones might put some people off. That being said, I think it's well worth the read.
This is a wonderful book,the author made the characters so real. I did not want to put it down. If you are looking for a fast paced
fun read this is for you.
The characters are relatable. The conflict between is genuinely irritating! The story taps into that desire to see the broken and hopeless rise out of the ashes.
So...what are you waiting for. Go read it!
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