It’s not often I do book reviews, but this is one I can’t pass up. As a disclaimer, I must disclose that I had the honour of being a beta reader for The Withering, the first book in the Encia Trilogy.
Who is N. K. Harrison?
My good friend, co-worker and fellow nerd N. K. Harrison is not just an up-and-coming fantasy author, but also a travel consultant, avid gamer, and youth business supporter. Hailing from the island of Guernsey, her extensive travels have been incredibly influential in her writing.
I hope that my writing can take people to places that I would not be able to normally send them in my day job.
N. K. Harrison – The Withering Launch Party
Welcome to Encaris
World building is the key to a lot of writing, and in no genre is this more important than fantasy. I know from my own work with Gillyford that it very quickly takes on a life of its own. For Fantasy, the level of detail is several magnitudes greater. Encaris is a beautifully rich world with its own dialects, lore, and history. All of which are perfectly portrayed by the author. One detail I found especially wonderful is the use of time. A year on Encaris is less than a year in our world, which as the author has said, required a complete rethink of how long months, weeks and even days were. It is attention to detail such as this that really draws you in to this world of magic and adventure.
Now for us Guerns, there is an added element of fun by trying to find the local easter eggs that have been dropped in. A wonderful nod and acknowledgement of the authors home.
You can explore the world of Encaris here
The story
This is the section that is the hardest to do without giving too much away. As River Song would say, “Spoilers, sweetie!”. So let’s start with the official blurb:
Instinct and choice define a person, or at least Harrison Stone believes so, which is why he chose to become a warden. Despite his impressive efforts, however, it was always going to be his twin sister, Siljanna, receiving the admiration of their commander and father, Sampson Stone. Living in her shadow had its advantages, until a tragic event and devastating fire changed his life unimaginably. Forced to choose between Siljanna and one of his dearest friends, a recently exposed mage, Harrison follows his instincts and the consequences of that choice steer his life in ways he never envisaged.
Now every fantasy reader knows that a good magic system is essential. On Encaris, this magic is called Encia (hence the Encia Trilogy). Encia is a potent energy that when harnessed, gives the user incredible magical abilities. There’s a bit of a caveat though. Unless you’re a member of the Elven race, Encia is actually incredibly toxic. Exposure for humans is a death sentence due to its effects. Hence the title of book one. It will literally cause a person to wither and die. So the question becomes: Would you be willing to risk everything for a taste of this power? And beyond a desire for power, what would drive you to use it?
The verdict
As I’ve said, I was a beta reader for The Withering, and as such I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the story grow and change. N. K. Harrison has created a wonderful world of magic and adventure. But more than that, it has a quality that lets us explore our own humanity. Engrossing and compelling; The Withering leaves you both satisfied and wanting more of this wonderful world.
Links
You can purchase your own copy of The Withering from the following:
For local readers: Writer’s Block
Visit the official Encia Trilogy website to find out more about the world of Encaris, the characters, and all the latest news and events.
J B Angell - Author 