Crystalborne Sigils

Beautifully paced, Crystalborne Sigils presents an interwoven adventure of magic, dystopian concepts and humanized interactions. With very little to fault, one is truly taken on an immersive journey following Gyasi and his new-found companions in pursuit of freedom to utilize magic in a world where it is heavily forbidden.

With gentle introductions, any reader is quickly able to adjust to Gyasi’s world, despite it being something of a fantastical one. The integration of magic and other fantastical elements are very subtly introduced and are used as tools, allowing character development and the plot to unite in a strong, coherent manner. Dystopian and science fiction readers would also appreciate how this world is presented, drawing on the humanized experience of a somewhat totalitarian society with secrets, mandates, rebellion, and forbidden behaviours. The inner monologue of characters were interestingly presented, utilizing italics and structure that didn’t overwhelm the reader. The format of the paragraphing was evidently curated, strongly contributing to a comfortable pace for the reader, while providing enough context and foreshadowing.

The only possibly detractor for some might be the overall length of the novel, with a noticeable increase in dialogue in the latter half, though this is only noticeable due to the author’s ability to consistently draw upon the reader’s curiosity and comfort – making it hard to put the book down.

A very holistically engaging experience – one that is likely to leave the reader hanging on to every word, despite the discomforts that a limited world such as this might create. Highly recommended!