Cephrael’s Hand: A Pattern of Shadow & Light: Book One

Melissa McPhail
Outskirts Press (2010)
ISBN 9781432759674
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (11/10)

 

“Cephrael’s Hand” is a book containing many stories and readers could find themselves getting discouraged early on because of the multiple plots. However, patience does pay off because the plots are all part of the same story and they begin to converge as the story progresses.

Trell is a man without a past who has spent the previous five years fighting in the service of the Emir. Before that, his mind is a blank slate. Aside from his first name, he remembers nothing about the man he was. With the permission of the Emir and the blessing of the water goddess, Naiadithine, he sets out on a quest to rediscover his past. Along the way, he faces numerous obstacles and encounters many people who are more than merely mortal, including the daughters of the water goddess who sent him on his journey. Trell doesn’t realize it yet but his quest is a small part of a much bigger game; a game that has been going on for centuries and that may soon come to an end. Trell’s role could impact what that end is, but how can he choose a side when he isn’t even aware that he’s playing?

Prince Ean is returning home from a long absence, when he suddenly finds himself the target of a kidnapping. Unable to fight against the otherworldly forces that face him, he finds himself hauled away by his captors. The trials that Ean is forced to endure make him realize that his abduction is more than a simple attack on the throne. Dark forces have been set in motion and Ean only has a short amount of time to decide who is friend and who is foe because his time to stand against one or the other fast approaches.

There is a lot going on in this book and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at first because of all the characters that are introduced so close together. Fortunately, things do eventually slow down and it becomes easy to focus on the story instead of keeping track of an ever-growing cast of characters. The adventures of Trell and Ean are unique from each other, with both of them facing different challenges and befriending different allies. Both characters are equally compelling, although I did find myself drawn more towards Trell because of the mystery surrounding his forgotten past.

I felt like something was missing throughout the first third of the book, but couldn’t figure out what it was until the missing element was actually found. While the story is interesting, it seemed a little dry as all the characters were put in place and the settings established. Fortunately, it was lightened up with the addition of a couple of colorful characters that make both Trell’s and Ean’s lives more interesting, providing a bit of much-needed humor. Trell doesn’t know if his new pirate friend, Carian, is a blessing or a curse but he’s certain that boredom won’t be a problem when the islander enters his life. Prince Ean’s cousin, Fynn, provides the comedy in Ean’s adventure. The lovable drunk has a passion for wine and a complete inability to keep his mouth shut when he should, but there’s a heart of slightly tarnished gold beating within his chest and he’ll stick by his cousin through thick and thin. Other characters such as the mysterious Raine, the Healer, Alyneri, and the young truthreader, Tanis, play important parts in the game that Ean and Trell find themselves unwittingly playing, and their insights provide additional depth and detail to a well-developed world.

“Cephrael’s Hand” is not a light afternoon read, but it is a well thought-out story with many layers to it. The characters and separate plots are all interconnected in varying ways and the underlying mysteries that tie everything together are well hidden and thoroughly disguised. While I was able to figure out a couple of the mysteries, the main ones are still lurking in the shadows and I’m hoping to uncover more of those secrets in the second book of the “Pattern of Shadow and Light” series.

Make comment on weblog

FTC Disclosure