A straightforward, imaginative tale of conquest and warfare.
In this epic story of ancient conquest, a man leads his army against several nations in order to fulfill a prophecy of greatness.
The leader of the Sarnese people is a power-hungry and bloodthirsty man called Pharkol, who, together with his wife Simarra’s powers as a seer, plans to defend their city against invaders. Once the attacking army is defeated, Simarra announces that in order to sustain and grow the Sarnese population, Pharkol must extend his power outside the Gateway to the barbaric people beyond its protection. She prophesies that Pharkol will take three more wives besides her, and the sons from these wives will rule the empire. But before Pharkol embarks with his warriors, Simarra warns of a dark omen of death—the marzen, a large bird of prey. With this in mind, Pharkol ventures out and fiercely destroys any savages that threaten his campaign for Sarnese glory. After each successful battle, Pharkol picks a new wife. The first is kind and meets a tragic end at the hands of the second, who is wild and violent. The third is an intelligent ambassador. Meanwhile, Simarra continues to send him letters forecasting the demise of still more enemies. Simarra reveals herself to be the real catalyst for the action in this novel, although fans of war tactics and battle scenes are sure to enjoy Pharkol’s exploits. However, Pharkol himself remains a rather one-dimensional character with his impassive killings and aggressive domination over his wives, who are in fact victims that are seen as spoils of war. Pharkol’s victories start to become predictable, and his hubris is unwavering, since he’s secure in the knowledge of his prophesied empire, but the ending offers an interesting portrait of a man who knows nothing other than martial success.
A straightforward, imaginative tale of conquest and warfare.Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1470111861
Page Count: 296
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A well-written, insightful account of abandoning self-identity to ultimately reclaim it.
Jacob’s debut novel follows a young Jewish man in search of himself in the early 1970s.
The bar mitzvah of Richard Zelman—an overweight, social misfit from California—is a disaster. Richard’s family’s humiliation is complete when he devolves into overwhelmed silence while at the synagogue’s podium and must be hand-fed his entire speech by the rabbi, to the horror of his family and the entire congregation. His only escape is an imaginary friend, Nygel Ply, who is his respite from a wretched life that’s capsizing him, despite his valiant efforts to rise to the surface. Richard attempts to leave his mistakes behind by moving to Europe and establishing a new identity as Nygel Ply, someone he never could manage to become while stateside. The bulk of the novel is the poignant, introspective journey of young Nygel as he meanders across Europe. The author effortlessly draws the reader into Nygel’s world as he meets various strangers who redirect his life from aimless wandering to working as a teacher at an English home for mentally challenged children. The secondary characters Nygel connects with are skillfully drafted, flawed people whose struggles both touch Nygel’s heart and facilitate his inner growth. Jacob’s use of setting is extraordinary; the streets of LA, small British pubs, a small English town, a terrifying encounter with border guards in Turkey all enliven Richard’s travels. Intricate details bring the varied settings to life, but do not intrude on the narrative.
A well-written, insightful account of abandoning self-identity to ultimately reclaim it.Pub Date: April 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1456421427
Page Count: 380
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A refreshingly blunt chorus of older women’s voices.
Meier (Ireland, Place Out of Time, 2017, etc.) and debut editor Barry, a psychotherapist, present an anthology of essays and poetry about female sexuality after age 50.
For some women, aging doesn’t mean the end of their sex lives but rather the beginning of new adventures. Liberation from pregnancy fears, child-rearing responsibilities, and menstruation allow them to fully indulge their own pursuit of pleasure. This anthology gives such women the opportunity to speak for themselves—and they do so with aplomb. Nonfiction author Bernadette Murphy discovers the orgasmic perks of learning to ride a motorcycle post-divorce. Lisa Mae DeMasi, whose work has appeared in multiple literary journals, finds that, with reiki practice and essential oils, achieving climax no longer feels like “trudging up Mount Washington with a dead body strapped to my back.” Writer and blogger Rita Bullinger describes how a communication technique called “Imago dialogue” has increased intimacy and sexual satisfaction with her lover: “Communication coupled with oral sex, I’m convinced, is what makes sex at sixty-six the best sex of our lives.” It’s not all excitement and discovery, however; writer Lola Fontay shares the unsettling experience of witnessing a man masturbating in front of her at the end of their first date. Poet Becky Dennison Sakellariou considers the legacy of silence around women’s desire: “A woman like me is invisible, if she is not, / she should be, an anathema, a sin.” But many writers here use humor to talk about the havoc that aging can wreak: “Just when we have our act together the warranty goes out on the equipment,” says author and professional speaker Sally Franz in her hilariously prescriptive essay “Tweaking Sex After Fifty.” The authors also often address sex with tact and sensuality: “Sometimes then, long-married / bodies, after stuttering into sleep, / curve into long slumbers of silk yesses, / yesses loud enough to waken dreams,” writes poet Brenda Yates. Toward the end, the bad online dating stories do become a bit repetitive. But there’s a diverse array of perspectives here, each unique enough to keep readers intrigued.
A refreshingly blunt chorus of older women’s voices.Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-9990994-4-5
Page Count: 190
Publisher: Weeping Willow Books
Review Posted Online: July 11, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
