C.M. Dawson’s THE EDGE OF OBLIVION: The Lesitha Veil Tales Book 1 follows seventeen-year-old Bex, who yearns to be an adventurer despite the pressures to start a family and follow in her father’s professional footsteps. When a tragic event puts her in possession of items that lead to numerous secrets and unimaginable dangers, the course of her life and understanding of her world get altered forever.
This work of fantasy begins with two beautifully illustrated maps, which prove helpful in following the characters on their adventures. There is also a Guide to the Facet Worlds in the back of the book, which includes a glossary of people, places, and artifacts. Readers will appreciate this useful reference, given the large number of characters and places that make an appearance.
While THE EDGE OF OBLIVION is mainly told from Bex’s point of view, several other perspectives come into play. This provides behind-the-scenes views of major political players, as well as antagonists attempting to stop our hero. Readers thus gain insight into the plot and character motivations while getting a more rounded view of the world. Although Bex’s point of view is in first-person, the remainder of the book is in third person—which helps in highlighting Bex’s voice. While the large cast does provide more glimpses into everything that's going on, it also leads to one of the main weaknesses of the book: a lack of characterization.
Due to the high number of characters, we don't get to know them individually all that deeply. Bex is characterized well enough to support the plot, but many of the secondary characters with smaller roles are difficult to tell apart. Readers looking for emotional depth and strong characterization may therefore be disappointed.
Dawson's creativity shines through in several aspects of the world building, including the concepts of the Edge, the veil, and the travel between worlds. However, the novel would benefit from more details to provide necessary clarification to its readers, especially relating to the setting's parameters. While this environment is presented in the beginning as a traditional fantasy, there are casual mentions of modern conveniences (such as touch screens, refrigerators, garages, and hovercrafts) that create a sense of disorientation.
Throughout the work, Dawson incorporates vivid descriptions that bring the setting and scenes to life. Readers can almost feel the dry heat when they read about how “sand-dusted clothes clung to their sweaty bodies as little puffs of dirt encircled each footstep.” This immersive prose makes it possible to get lost in the narrative.
In the end, THE EDGE OF OBLIVION succeeds as the debut entry of a promising new fantasy saga.
Readers looking for a coming-of-age fantasy that includes descriptive and creative environments will find an enjoyable adventure in C.M. Dawson’s THE EDGE OF OBLIVION: The Lesitha Veil Tales Book 1.
~ Abigail McCoy for IndieReader