Reminiscent in many ways to Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS, John Lawson's WITCH EMBER is equally unique and complex, with a huge dose of "weirdness" mixed in. Mr. Lawson has created a new world in which everything is based on the power of magic.
The main character, Esmeree, is a descendant of First Ancestor, who ate one of the Stones of Power. In this strangely compelling tale, the reader follows Esmeree's adventures as she attempts to master her stone and understand why she has it. Esmeree's world is dangerous, and many of the individuals she encounters seek to exploit her powers or punish her in order to maintain control of the strange levels of society. The Seven Kingdoms is both violent and uncomfortable, and the reader is thrust immediately into the young witch's feelings of betrayal as she battles and kills Hiisi, her accomplice and former lover. Many strange and wondrous beings populate the land of the Seven Kingdoms, and the main character's interactions between the different inhabitants are engaging, strange, and frightening.
The novel's complexity is based significantly in understanding the layers of the language utilized. For example, much of the dialog and commentary of every-day life in WITCH EMBER is written in a language created by the author. Fortunately, Mr. Lawson includes a glossary at then end of the novel that allows the reader a deeper insight into Esmeree's world. Ultimately, I was left somewhat confused and uncomfortable when I finished reading WITCH EMBER. The author's ability to create a strange new plane of existence is startling, but the novel is so complex that I feel it requires multiple readings to completely understand everything that is said and occurs.
© All Materials Copyright John Lawson 2006