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Book Review: A Whisper of Wind

Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 4/5

Title: A Whisper of Wind

Author: Aaron Scott Wickel

Publication Date: September 27, 2021

Genre: Epic Fantasy; Adventure

Cover:

I like the image of the sword as it is a critical element in the book; however, I think a different background would help provide more contrast and better highlight the details of the sword.

Premise

As a battle between good and evil rages in another world, Kinara Katari, a member of the Guardian Forces of Alympia, finds herself at the center of it all. She is caught between processing her own loss and fulfilling her mission of keeping the young Zaelek Khiings safe from harm. Zaelek has also experienced misfortune in life while discovering powers within himself he never thought possible

Why I chose this book:

Author Aaron Scott Wickel requested this review. This was one of the first fantasy/adventure books submitted to The Redhead Notes, and I was happy to accept it as I enjoy both genres.

First Impression:

Wickel includes a pronunciation guide for names, which I found a helpful reference while reading. The book opens with a classified document with redacted information. This quickly caught my attention and created a sense of mystery as I wanted to know who the document referenced.

What I loved:

I enjoyed the use of technology on this planet. Wickel put thought into this aspect by including innovative ways to communicate, travel, confirm identities, and even detect lies. However, this futuristic and advanced technology is balanced with the importance of the natural elements of fire, water, earth, and wind. For example, certain people are born with talents that harness the power of these natural elements, and they can be used to help and protect others or harm them. This offered an interesting balance to the advanced technology.

In addition, Wickel created characters, like Kinara and Zaelek, that are likable, and I frequently found myself silently rooting for their success as they progressed through the story. When they experienced victory, I shared this feeling with them, and when heartache entered their story, I commiserated with their loss.

Additional Thoughts:

If you have spent any time on Twitter, you know that first-person perspective is a hot topic, with people either loving or hating it. I enjoy first-person perspectives under the right circumstances. Wickel uses this writing style to convey the thoughts of multiple characters. With each new chapter comes a new perspective, and I found it difficult to switch back and forth. At times, I wasn’t sure whose perspective I was reading, especially at the beginning when I was first learning who the characters were. One way to help readers might be to add the character’s name at the top, so it is immediately clear who is thinking and speaking.

Also, I felt the book ended rather suddenly. It felt almost as if it had been cut off mid-scene. However, Wickel did prepare the reader for the continuation of the story in a second book, which I would happily read.

Quotable Quotes:

• “I learned to celebrate their lives rather than dwell on their deaths.” She held the sword to my chest until I wrapped my arms around it. “This is our legacy, Zaelek. Don’t let it slip through your fingers.” (Page 112)
• “You always have a choice, but you don’t always have control over the consequences.” (Page 181)
• Was I willing to sacrifice a piece of my soul to torture someone? (Page 259)
• The sting of the needle piercing my skin was hardly noticeable. A more significant pain, one that could only be felt by the heart, consumed me. (Page 310)

Who might enjoy this book:

A Whisper of Wind is ideal for readers who enjoy being immersed in a futuristic fantasy world with descriptive action scenes.

Overall Impression:

Four stars. A Whisper of Wind is a well-thought-out and developed story with a unique blend of advanced technology and natural elements that help to create an exciting fantasy world. Even though the world is drastically different from ours, the reader can identify with the challenges faced by the characters because they are similar to ours in some respects, such as navigating relationships and mourning for those we love. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

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