BOOK REVIEW: The Mirror Of N'De by L.K. Malone

The Mirror of N'De is a YA Science Fiction/Fantasy novel.

Hadley Mivana is a thirteen year old Hamash who lives in N'De where the Oresed are the upper ruling class.

The Hamash are treated as a slave race, owing everything to their "owners", the Oresed.  On the day that Hadley and her friends, Alila and Nomish Rakam, are old enough to be apprenticed, the three believe it to be the happiest day of their lives.  However when Ba'ar, Hadley's nemesis, walks into the shop they are working in, their antics get them into heaps of trouble with Asinus, the Overlord of the Lawgivers who has never hid his contempt of the Hamash people.

However, before their fates can be sealed, the great and powerful Emperor and his young son, Zer-Shungalli arrive via a shining disk and announce that the Oresed and the Hamash were to be treated equally and the slave classes were to be removed.  They also announce that the coveted apprentice spots in the Tower were now open to all of N'De, including the Hamash.

On the day that all the children are called for the testing, Hadley hopes that she is not chosen, she could not bear to leaver her parents, plus, she has been having weird dreams the seem to be prophetic in nature.  The dreams have the adults in her life, acting scared and nervous and she is sworn never to mention them to anyone.

After Hadley is sent to the Tower, she makes many enemies and many friends and learns things she never could dream were possible.  Following the direction of her dreams, Hadley may be able to unlock the mysteries surrounding the Mirror of N'De.

I thought this was a delightful book and was charmed by the characters found within.  I loved the world and character building that the author has encompassed.  There are creatures to be found within the pages that truly uncanny and the cross breeding and results can be hilarious.

I thought the antagonists played their parts well, one couldn't help but loathe Asinus and his racist, condescending attitude.  Ba'ar was also a worthy thorn in the side of the characters, especially Hadley, who, for the most part, bore her discomfort well.

I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the Emperor, his son and the Mirror.  It made you want to continue to read on, just to find out the circumstances.  The Tower, with all its surprises, intrigues and developments was entertaining and one couldn't help but laugh at the wit provided.

At times I felt that the story was about the Genesis story found in the bible, I couldn't help but see the similarities betwixt it and this story, especially when one reads the history of the Hamash, the Oresteds, the lizard rulers and the magic that surrounds it all.

I would give The Mirror of N'De a four out of five stars.  I found the story was a tad slow to pick up and the dialogue sometimes lacked command or direction but other than that, this is a wonderful read that will be sure to entertain and hold you captivated right to the very end.

SYNOPSIS:
In the mythical city of N'de lives thirteen-year-old Hadlay and her people, the Ramash. Scorned and abused by the unloving and absent Emperor, the Ramash are poor people, placed second to the ruling class of the Oresed. Young but bold, Hadlay rages against the injustice in her city. When she is chosen for the honor of serving the Prince in the Tower, she hopes to find a way to right the wrong . . . but soon discovers that things are worse than she believed.

 

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **