Book Review for Trial by Fear by Bruce E. Arrington

Trial by Fear by Bruce E. Arrington is a dark fantasy that delves into a world of magic and mystery, as Beon, a prince from the lost kingdom Er, struggles to deal with the horrors of his past, as well as search for a future he never dreamt had existed.

The story begins when Beon, a slave, is running away from his goblin masters. Just when he is about to die, a woman named Calandria finds Beon and saves him, before bringing him to her castle. As Beon begins to remember his time as a prince of Er, he learns more about himself, all the while meeting familiar yet strange companions. By the end of the book, he manages to take hold of his new abilities, and finds an inner strength that allows him to overcome his many years as a slave.

Arrington shows a charming simplicity in the way he writes his characters. Each of the people Beon meets are, in fact, remnants of a past he has yet to take hold of. They each have their own skills and story, but in the end, each were saved by Calandria, and play a part in building up Beon’s confidence.  Though their interactions are brief, they were satisfying nonetheless. Personally, I also empathized with Beon’s character. Overcoming fears and self-doubt was something I struggled with for a long time, so I couldn’t help but fall in love with Beon. Despite his struggles and doubts, he still pushed himself, since practicing to shape-shift and to read and write, I imagine, aren’t particularly easy tasks.

I would’ve liked there to be more details in the books. It would’ve been mesmerizing to picture Calandria’s castle in all its majesty, as well as the twisted forests that Beon had to run into to evade his captors; perhaps even digging a home in the dirt would’ve sounded incredibly appealing. Though the lack of sensory imagery was a problem, everything else was fine.

I would give this book a rating of a 3.9 out of 5 stars. The book is enchanting in its undemanding dialogue and settings, to the point where it reminded me of the Mother Goose Tales. Arrington took me back to a much more innocent time where everything was as it should be, and where the world was small enough that I could conquer it. Though I would’ve preferred more details, I would recommend this book to teenagers, Harry Potter fans, and adults who want to be reminded of their youth.