Rider (Spirals of Destiny), by Jim Bernheimer

I received Rider (Spirals of Destiny), by Jim Bernheimer, as a Review Copy from the author.

Description: Kayleigh was tested at a young age and shown to have no magic. So, she is pretty shocked when she inadvertantly links with a unicorn and is accepted to become a Battle Maiden.

Overall: 5 Stars

Plot/Storyline: 4 3/4 Stars

I couldn’t put this book down. I was on vacation when I started reading it, but not even going to the beach could entice me away. (I didn’t like taking my Kindle to the beach, even with a protective bag.) The book pulled me in from page one and did not let go, even at the end which had me searching for the sequel.

I loved the society and the Battle Maidens’ academy. I found the world in the novel to be truly engrossing. There was just enough detail to give a good impression of the world without bogging the reader down with too much description, as is found in many fantasy novels.

I particularly enjoyed the way the chapters alternated between the viewpoints of Kayleigh and her unicorn. This gave the book a more rounded feeling. It also reinforced the knowledge that the unicorns were intelligent, not just “for animals”, but had human-like intelligence.

My only criticism is that it was never fully explained why Kayleigh tested as having no magic. There was only an offhanded comment that the tests are not always conclusive. However, I would have assumed that a girl with such strong magic could not have slipped through the cracks.

While I will have to wait patiently for a sequel to be published, this novel was definitely a good, solid stand alone. There is a cliff-hanger ending, but not so much that I was annoyed. It just left me wanting to read the next book.

Character Development: 5 Stars

I found Kayleigh to be a strong female protagonist. While she had her weaknesses, she was also pretty brave in her actions. I did feel as though more background could have been given on her prior to her introduction to her unicorn, but it was filled in pretty well later in the story.

Her unicorn was also well developed. He was fun to read about and evoked a lot of empathy.

The other characters were interesting, also. The novel was peopled with various personalities, each unique and intriguing.

Writing Style: 5 Stars

The writing had a smooth flow that made for easy reading, while still maintaining a complexity for adults to enjoy. I am not certain if this was meant to be YA fantasy. However, it didn’t really matter as I could easily see people of all ages enjoying this. If I had to choose, I would liken the writing style to Piers Anthony, which is most likely a big reason for my avid enjoyment.

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As you, my readers, are most likely aware, it is rare for me to find a Fantasy Novel that I enjoy so much. I am pretty picky when it comes to this genre. This one captured me completely.

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Here are some comments from the author, Jim Bernheimer: