More often than not, science fiction authors turn their sights to the stars, offering their readers a glimpse into the distant (or not-so-distant) future. Fantasy writers, on the other hand, tend to set their adventures in a world resembling our (often medieval) past. With PRIMEVAL ORIGINS: Paths of Anguish, B. A. Vonsik succeeds in blending elements from both genres with a remarkably fresh premise. The resulting novel is an enticing introduction to an epic LitRPG (literary role playing game) series.
The story opens in South America, where graduate student Nikki Ricks is toiling away at an archaeological dig site. In their efforts to get a closer look at the newly discovered species of dinosaur, Nikki’s team makes the discovery of a lifetime: an ornate sword buried amongst the bones of creatures that presumably predate humanity by tens of millions of years. Woefully under-caffeinated and sleep-deprived, Nikki stumbles and is knocked unconscious. When she awakens, she finds herself trapped in the memories of a young man named Rogaan. At first glance, Rogaan’s life isn’t all that unfamiliar, save for the fact that his people live among dinosaurs! If the ever-present threat of prehistoric creatures wasn’t enough, Nikki soon bears witness to a political coup that sends Rogaan on the run for his life. With his dying father’s final words echoing through his head, Rogaan (along with his friend, Pax) sets out to find the Ebon Circle, a dangerous group of mystics that just might be the would-be Kiuri’Ner’s only hope for survival.
PRIMEVAL ORIGINS: Paths of Anguish was initially published back in 2014 to rave reviews, and for good reason. In addition to the frenetic pace and the ever-present drama, Vonsik manages to craft not one, but two immersive worlds separated by sixty-five million years. That said, Nikki’s perspective only bookends the story, which means that readers spend the majority of the novel in the distant past, walking (or hiding) from dinosaurs. While Rogaan is a compelling character (his relationship with Pax is particularly well-written), the lack of time with Nikki ultimately shortchanges what could have been an equally riveting storyline. Fortunately, Rogaan’s journey is an action-packed prehistoric adventure that more than earns the spotlight, especially when taking into account the intended YA audience. And while the first-act transition of the story is a bit jarring and there is an over-reliance on redundant exposition, what Vonsik’s debut lacks in polish it more than makes up for with ambition. Humanity having lived amongst dinosaurs is the perfect example of an intriguing premise that flies in the face of convention. It’s also a fresh idea that lays ample groundwork for an ongoing saga, something that Vonsik sets up perfectly with a massive cliffhanger of an ending. Fortunately, readers don’t have to wait long to learn the truth about humanity’s origins—the remainder of this award-winning trilogy has already been published.
With PRIMEVAL ORIGINS: Paths of Anguish, B. A. Vonsik overcomes the occasional misstep to deliver an ambitious debut that pairs a coming-of-age story with an intriguing sci-fi-tinged premise.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader