Review: Heir to the Luima Legacy by Gabrielle Poplar

Two Brothers Struggle to Inherit a Throne. Or was it about their Father’s Attention? - Gabrielle Poplar

Review – 4 Stars

Heir to the Luima Legacy fits comfortably in the YA fantasy category, like a cozy sweater. The story starts a little slow for those of us who read the first book, but picks up the pace. Ms. Poplar’s solid world building and character development are even better this time around. With a solid, well executed plot Heir captivates. Young Meryl faces his world shifting to something he never expected. He manages to delay some of the more onerous parts of his heritage as he and his friends are caught up in the struggle for the survival of their kingdom. His brother is another matter. I think we all have a cousin, somewhere, that Nestor reminds us of. Poplar holds out slim branch of hope for Nestor’s redemption, but it remains to be seen if he will grasp it. I find it refreshing to have faith, and the strength it imparts, so central to the story.

On the technical side, there is room for improvement in the writing. I’d like to see the phrasing and grammar tightened up in the next book, as well as allowing us a deeper contact with her characters. Her writing reminds me of the early work of some, now well known, authors. Poplar is clearly a young writer still developing her own style. That’s okay, even Shakespeare didn’t come out as a full-blown talent. He grew it. I look forward to watching her talents grow as her technical skills approach her abilities in world building and character development, not to mention solid storytelling. This is an author to watch.

I will be waiting for the next book in the series. What, exactly, is in the little box?

See more from Gabrielle Poplar at her website http://www.gabriellepoplar.com/