Review by Melissa Gunn
This novel started well; after a prologue giving some backstory of the main character, Irenya, we see a realistic portrayal of a harried mother experiencing a panic attack in a supermarket car park which ended with the main character entering another world through the portal of a reflective window. At this point, I was invested with the character, wondering how she’d get back to her baby and partner from another world.
Unfortunately, the action slowed to a crawl, and while we meet some sympathetic characters, the main character descends into an apathy which also affects the reader. Although this is also likely to be a realistic portrayal of the mental health struggles someone would go through when suddenly separated from their child, it made for difficult reading.
Luckily, things change up in part II, and some of the novel’s initial promise is rediscovered as the main character finds her strengths, while going on a journey in the country she’s found herself in. There are many hinted-at alliances and things to come, although it seems that many of these things will come to fruition in the following novels of the series.
There are a number of challenging issues addressed in this book, especially mental health, with not just the main character but also several other characters suffering from depression, PTSD and more. There’s also mention of suicide and death of some of the characters.
It’s also a book for music lovers, with music and song a recurring theme of strength. The main character is able to trade her songs for goods and services in her new world. The world itself is well-imagined, with some interesting magic systems which I hope will be further explained in the next books. I particularly appreciated the concept of the mental health issues of the main character’s grandmother being really due to her having seen or been in another world.
Overall, I’d give this a 3.5 star rating, because although slow bit dragged for me, I was fully engaged by the end of the novel, and I have found myself thinking about some of the plot points well after reading the book.
More about the book:
A twentieth century woman is lost in a fantasy world with nothing but the clothes on her back and her innate humanity. This is the story of her compelling need to redefine herself.
When Irenya O’Neil suffers a panic attack and falls into the realm of Dar Orien, a world with a failed MageGate system, she finds herself unable to return home to her infant son – she is trapped in a nightmare that tests her sanity.
Confronted with evidence that she possesses a Gift of power, Irenya attempts to control her fledgling talent through music. This could be her ticket home. But Irenya becomes mired in the civil unrest that has befallen Dar Orien. Sickened by the bloodshed and fearful for her own safety, Irenya is desperate to find her way home.
This is book one of the series and will appeal to mature readers who enjoy portal fantasy. Especially those with an interest in motherhood, realistic female MC’s and mental health/neurodiversity.
Get a copy:
- Odyssey Books: https://www.odysseybooks.com.au/?s=&product_cat=0&book_author=j-victoria-michael&post_type=product
- Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4Q3LjlS
Find out more about the author and their work at http://www.jvictoriamichael.com