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     It's a strange day when you find yourself completely torn after reading a book. As a reviewer, you are left with the question of where to go with your review. Do you blindly nitpick your way through the things you didn't like, with blinders blocking off the things you appreciated? Or do you happily puff up the good parts hoping that none of your trusted readers wish to bonk you around the room when they realize the story wasn't all that great? It is with that dilemma in mind that I bring you my review of Kismet and Tell, Book 1 of Adventures in Sorcery.

     The story follows Ms. Marissa Cobalt, a skilled sorceress with a kick ass take no prisoners attitude and blue hair. A good person at heart, Marissa helps rid the world of evil-but alas, she is a mercenary, because, well, something has to bring in the bucks-and will not take a job if there are absolutely no riches involved in the outcome. This particular adventure begins with Marissa being hired to find a prince who has gone off after a treasure never to be seen again. She heads off in pursuit and is almost immediately attacked. Rescued by the handsome and gallant swordsman Fiore Ferio (as if she needed it), Marissa reluctantly lets him join her on her journey, a choice that they both insist has nothing to do with the mutual attraction they share. Misadventure after misadventure occur as Marissa and Fiore fall in love, make new friends, and discover that perhaps Marissa is more than meets the eye. At first Marissa and Fiore are having a blast on their adventure, but a prophecy and a demon that is completely out to get Marissa could put a damper on their plans-and put one of them in mortal danger.

     The story found in this book is an interesting one, and I have no qualms about it in itself. Ms. Owens is extremely creative in the characters she brings us, as well as with the self-created mythology she introduces us to in order to back it up. My only issue with the story is that it moves quite fast and even that doesn't hurt the story much. Despite the fact that the relationship between Marissa and Fiore moves at light speed, the story remains unblemished. That is, until you move on to the writing behind it.

     By no means is Ms. Owens a bad writer-she is very descriptive and does bring you into the story. I just find her writing to be way too simplistic. This was okay at first-when I thought that the story was for the young adult set. Unfortunately, simplistic writing doesn't fly when your writing scenes that include rape, sex, and extreme violence. This left me with a contradictory feeling-the tone of the book was just all wrong.

     Another small qualm that I had when it came to writing style was Ms. Owens' attempt to infuse the novel with elements found in Japanese Anime. In anime, it is normal for characters to bop one another on the head or to fall over in shock. But, unfortunately, when placed into a setting that is to be taken seriously, it breaks the reader out of the story. For instance, when shocking, frightening, news is announced, it is a little annoying to have to read that Marissa fell over, and then had to get up and dust herself off before she even begins to verbally react to the news. This is cute in anime because it is drawn and we can see it while the characters react. In a visual spectrum like anime this type of action is necessary for story development, but for this novel it feels strangely out of place and slows down the pace of the story.

     Strangely, despite all of the negatives I found in the story, I found myself eager for Part 2. Ms. Owens is in need of a strong editor as opposed to what she got when she self-published this novel, but the story is interesting and the mythology is first rate-very inventive. If the right steps are taken, Adventures in Sorcery could turn out to be a great and well-known fantasy book series-Just not yet.

     Send your comments and or questions about this article to manzanos@netzero.net.

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