FAMILYFANS Books & Comics

AURALIA'S COLORS: A Novel

by Jeffrey Overstreet

(WaterBrook Press)

Reader Appeal: Youth and Adult

Genre: Fantasy

The popularity of fantasy novels informed by the Christian narrative is at a high watermark. Both C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia  and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings have been passed on to a new generation through their successful translations from print to film. More recently, J.K. Rowling has conquered both mediums simultaneously with her Harry Potter series, and in spite of intense critics from some wings of the church, she has given our culture a story rich with the Christian themes of death, sacrifice, and immortality.

The commercial success of these giants has spawned countless imitations and “also- ran’s.” Fantasy fans wading through familiar plots warmed over must wonder if there’s a fresh voice with a new story to tell.

Gratefully, first time novelist, Jeffery Overstreet, provides us a truly new world to explore in Auralia's Colors. Overstreet offers readers the Expanse, a land marred by alienation and populated with fascinating characters: noble thieves, a noble class plagued by greed and cowardice, and more. Auralia, herself, is a intriguing picture of innocence. However, she remains a well-textured character, even without guile.

Four ruling houses  in the Expanse are divided by distrust, jealously, and war. Social fragmentation prevails in House Abascar. King Cal-Marcus rules House Abascar under siege by the Beastmen who maraud the outskirts of his kingdom. However the most significant threat to his reign is his own subjects. A criminal class, the Gathers, live in exile outside of the walls of the city. The Grudger’s whispers of revolt have reached the throne room.

The delicate balance of power in the Expanse is challenged by Auralia, a mysterious orphan girl, who moves blithely across the societal boundaries drawn by others. She is driven by a curiosity to discover her hidden origins and by a desire to share her mysterious power with others. Auralia’s virtue exposes just how fragile the kingdom is. Auralia is master with colorful threads but she accidentally unravels Abascar’s delicate balance like a cheap sweater. But what it is that she is weaving remains unclear. Readers will close Auralia's Colors impatiently waiting for the second installment.

Jeffery Overstreet is not only a novelist but an accomplished film critic. This cinematic sensibility shows itself with vividly painted scenes and smart pacing. He fills in the back story for several characters without bogging down the plot. Overstreet also favors a contemporary voice over the intentionally archaic voice that Tolkien favored. This choice contributes to the smooth ride for the readers - but don’t be lulled to sleep. Auralia’s Colors handles like a luxury sports car on the unexpected plot twists that Overstreet places across the reader’s path.

Auralia's Colors is a brilliant piece of fantasy writing, and not just compared to other offerings within the Christian market. This reviewer is eager awaiting then next installment of Overstreet’s well crafted fairy tale.

FAMILYFANS RATING: A

--LS

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