Peter Kong

Journey to the East tells the story of fourteen-year-old Risa Dewillows and the harrowing journey she undertakes through fantastical lands. Abandoned at the age of four in a small fishing village, Risa is forced to flee her home due to war and a deadly attack on the townspeople. Not knowing where she would go, Risa set out on a journey, taking along with her a small item her mother had given her as a child. Along the way, Risa encounters Karys who is a sorceress with attitude. Although the two girls are not traveling for the same reason, they decide to travel together and become friends. While Risa has long been aware that she has magical powers and has tried to hide and suppress them, many perilous situations Risa and Karys find themselves in force Risa to begin to use her magic. The purpose and powers of the small item Risa was carrying on the journey were gradually revealed to the girls. On the journey, Risa begins to put the pieces of her early life together and comes to understand that she has an exceptional ancestry. Despite that leaders from other kingdoms wanted Risa dead and she had many brushes with death, Risa and Karys managed to survive to uncover the truth about Risa’s parents and her destiny. At the end of the story, Risa is determined to learn how to best control and use her powers. She wants to complete her quest and face her destiny. The book ends by explaining that the story of the unraveling of Risa’s destiny will be revealed in a sequel novel.

The fantasy world of Journey to the East is rich and complex. There are many peoples, lands, creatures, philosophies, governments, and monsters. Fortunately, the author provides some maps and other guides to help readers learn about and understand all of these details. There are many warring lands, culture clashes, and battles. For those who like detailed and complex fantasy stories and tales of danger and battles, this book will definitely be relished. That being said, casual readers of fantasy fiction may find the complexity of the strange world overwhelming or at least alienating.

Given the age of Risa, it is likely that this book is intended for young adult audiences. However, voracious readers of fantasy fiction of any age may enjoy it. Despite that Risa did not completely answer all of her questions and those plot resolutions are to be found in a sequel, the book can stand on its own. It’s not problematic to leave some facets of the plot unresolved. Many young adult fantasy novels end like that.

This book could have used a bit more editing. I found several typos. While this can happen in any book, there were more mistakes than usual. Also, the book is quite complex and it seems that some historical narratives were recounted in detail multiple times. Once the history of a person, place, or thing is described in detail, these details can be referred to briefly later on. While not all readers may mind the repetition, I found that it made the story drag in places.

Overall, a book of great interest for those who enjoy fantasy fiction.… (más)

Journey to the East
The Story of the Goddess Ankhanessa

Can a fourteen year old girl save a magical planet?
Journey to the East the story of the Goddess Ankhanessa, book one of a new series by Peter Kong, is a challenging read as you overcome obstacles at every turn.
This is the absorbing saga of an abandoned child’s danger-filled journey to find her mother and save the magical world of Eos. Risa Dewillows and her sorceress friend Karys Sana Merkel brave the agents of darkness, the hidden dangers of the Merrin Forest and betrayal as they battle their way to Artisala, the capital of the Ametarashi Federation, to save Eos.
I was hard pressed, to put it down, things were moving so fast. The maps in the Appendix are excellent, but hard to get to in the e-book format, I would like a small map at the beginning of each chapter so I know where, Risa and Karys are and what lies ahead.
If you want a fast moving dark fantasy/adventure with a little magic thrown in and a twisting, turning plot, you will enjoy this debut novel by Peter Kong.… (más)