THE DOOR TO INFERNA

One moment Khioneus Nevula is enjoying his winter break and the next he is thrown into the world of Elkloria, all while being hunted by the Triskén.

Will Khi learn to harness his magical powers in time to save himself and the Kingdom of Neurazia? Khi has always felt different because he is adopted—and has purple eyes. His life on Earth is short-lived, however, when he comes across a portal in the forest and is suddenly transported to the planet of Pyrhithya in a different universe. There, he learns that he is the Prince of Neurazia. What follows is an adventure in which Khi learns about his past, his legacy, and his birth family, all while caught up in a race to save himself and the kingdom from the dreaded Triskén. The imagery is vivid and elaborate enough that readers can visualize everything distinctly, but stilted dialogue weakens the text. The detailed worldbuilding, which includes a multitude of new terms, can feel overwhelming to track and remember, negatively affecting the pace of the story. Khi’s occasional frustration in having to quickly learn about his new world will mirror the experience of some readers. Before being transported, Khi has pale skin and brown hair; in the fantasy universe, characters have a range of skin tones and hair colors not found on Earth.

A complex debut that shows promise.