I always say that it’s very good to start a reading without expecting much from any story, because when it surprises you, it really does. And that’s exactly what happened with The Empire of Storms by Jon Skovron, published by Arqueiro. Right from the start, it’s clear that, despite being a Young Adult, the language leans more towards “adult” than “Young,” as there’s a good amount of swear words and expressions adapted to the universe of Nova Laven and the Circle, which immediately draws you into the whole plot.
Skovron chose to tell the stories of Hope and Red alternately, until at a certain point in the plot, they come together to form an unlikely duo in search of revenge and justice. The universe created by the author is quite cruel and unfortunate, as the entire plot unfolds
in the poor and miserable part of Nova Laven.
The development of the main characters is also quite nice, starting when they are both 8 years old until they reach 18. But it’s not one of those extremely long developments like some fantasy books out there. Here in The Empire of Storms, the development is quicker, without being superficial, covering the main passages of both Hope and Red while skipping some years between the parts that divide the whole story of this first book.
Jon Skovron also paid attention to the range of supporting characters that fill the story very competently and, I must say, quite entertainingly as well. It’s really great to “see” the passages where each of them walks their path, gaining and, I must say, losing friends and companions during each one’s journey.
As I said before, the vocabulary of this group is quite diverse, so you have to pay a little more attention to understand what they mean to avoid looking clueless. But don’t worry, dear readers, there is indeed light at the end of the book, that is, a glossary of the most common slang from Nova Laven.
I’m sure everyone will really enjoy this first journey of Hope and Red in what promises to be a great trilogy full of adventure, battles, magic, violence, love, friendship, and much more. Without a doubt, The Empire of Storms by Jon Skovron is absolutely and entertainingly UNMISSABLE.
About the author: Jon Skovron has been an actor, musician, lifeguard, Broadway ticket taker, warehouse worker, manual writer, and web developer. A finalist for the Morningstar award for The Empire of Storms, Jon is the author of several books for young readers, and his short stories have appeared in various publications and anthologies. He lives in the suburbs of Washington with two children and two cats, and enjoys dark, strange, and slightly funny stories.
Source: Saga Literaria
Jeffa Koontz
Literary Critic
www.sagaliteraria.com.br