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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Twelfth Sun by Mae Clair

REVIEW:

Because Twelfth Sun is all about symbols and clues, I'll start by saying that the purpose of a ship can be not only to transport people from one place to another, but to bring them together in a more personal way. And if in some case the same fate becomes hostile, even sunken, the ship tends to fulfill her destiny. Yet, the Twelfth Sun will provide the opportunity, but the final decision will belong to the lovers.

What was supposed to be a simple purchase, fulminatory starts with one of the most embarrassing possible events and the way in which those involved deal with this issue will only put fuel on the fire. And since I mentioned the fire, we could say that this event is the spark that ignites the passion blaze between the main characters. A passion that gave them the chance to see the opportunity, the possibility of a true love or the "risk" of an “unapproved, clandestine” love, but also the occasion to weigh and turn on all faces the pros and cons of such a relationship. Although most of the cons are directly related to preconceptions, a lack of communication – induced by the fear to accept a painful truth - will cause more emotions. A bit frustrating for Elijah and Reagan because they probably did not know that such a romance must have a HEA, we, the knowing readers, still can "enjoy" their insecurity and their verbal confrontations as witty as funny they are. And when the waters start to settle between them (pun intended) we have enough other reasons to like the further story.

To give you some idea, I would say that Twelfth Sun is a good story with some touches of Fool's Gold (2008) and one of Agatha Christie’s mysteries. Humor is an important element even if the stake is serious and deadly danger lurks even if the one who staged the competition seemed to have full control. Regarding the real interest hidden behind this mise en scene, it might seem a bit forced, however I accept that it is possible.

The main characters are adorable in their seriousness and/or their giddiness. I liked that the author has managed to catch and create a palpable Elijah whose features are well defined and feed Reagan’s anxieties, but at the same time highlighting that the differences between them are unimportant in the end.

Each of the secondary characters brings something extra to the story: a hint of impishness, a professional and personal potential rival, a cold or dismissive front, but also danger. These secondary characters whose role in the treasure hunt seems to change from one page to another, allow the story to gain a more pronounced suspense nuance, as it develops. In fact, this is another thing that I liked: the romance does not capture the story, but blends nicely with the artifact recovery.

Benefiting from the pleasant style of the author, with a sustained pace without dead moments, a thrilling plot and the way in which the author draws the readers in the clue solving game, Twelfth Sun, in its role of light vessel for Reagan and Elijah, is certainly a very nice reading.


About the author:
Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars. She snagged the tail of a comet, hitched a ride, and discovered her writer’s Muse on the journey.
Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at:


Author's Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your review and for hosting me today!