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The Klaereon Scroll #1
The Vessel of Ra
While traveling in Venice in 1837, Lucy Klaereon, in order to save her family’s honor and her immortal soul, decides to commit suicide by drowning herself in the Grand Canal. Unfortunately for Lucy, she is rescued. Her rescuers believe they can separate her from the demon Ra, whom she is destined to fight because of an ancient family pact.
What Lucy does not know is that her rescuers have their own agenda. Paolo Borgia, head of a deposed magical family, wants to use Ra for his own purposes. Lucy is given an alternative, to separate herself from her demon and family, which she gladly welcomes. When she finds out the truth about Ra, Lucy's purpose changes from not only freedom, but to righting an ancient wrong.
Octavia, Lucy’s older sister, is in pursuit. She has been trained since birth to kill Lucy when Lucy loses her battle with Ra.. At the ritual to free Ra, the two sisters clash with surprising results. Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is determined to free her sister and keep Ra from reshaping the world in his image.
There is one small problem. Lucy has been murdered. However, she’s not about to let a small detail like that keep her from correcting her mistakes. Lucy will save Octavia, even if it kills her again.
What Lucy does not know is that her rescuers have their own agenda. Paolo Borgia, head of a deposed magical family, wants to use Ra for his own purposes. Lucy is given an alternative, to separate herself from her demon and family, which she gladly welcomes. When she finds out the truth about Ra, Lucy's purpose changes from not only freedom, but to righting an ancient wrong.
Octavia, Lucy’s older sister, is in pursuit. She has been trained since birth to kill Lucy when Lucy loses her battle with Ra.. At the ritual to free Ra, the two sisters clash with surprising results. Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is determined to free her sister and keep Ra from reshaping the world in his image.
There is one small problem. Lucy has been murdered. However, she’s not about to let a small detail like that keep her from correcting her mistakes. Lucy will save Octavia, even if it kills her again.
- GenresFantasy
250 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2017
1 person is currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Schaff-Stump
23 books33 followersCath Schaff-Stump writes fantasy for children and adults. She writes funny stories, dark stories, and everything in between. She is the author of the Klaereon Scroll series and the Abigail Rath Versus series. Cath lives and works in Iowa. She hosts the blog Fantastic History and writes the Substack column The Crone.
To support Cath's work, consider buying her a dozen black roses at https://ko-fi.com/cathschaffstump
To support Cath's work, consider buying her a dozen black roses at https://ko-fi.com/cathschaffstump
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 7, 2019
This is one of the titles in my SPFBO group that I was interested enough to read in its entirety. That doesn't mean it has been chosen for semi-finalists or that it has been eliminated at this point either by our group(eventually there will be a post for that).
The Gods of Egypt have been banished to the abyss and called demons, the Solomon Scroll may hold the key to freeing them. The Klaereon family holds that scroll and Lucy and Octavia, are inline to inherit it- depending on which of them is the strongest daughter and survives the attempt at binding their demon familiars.
Ra is the strongest of the Demons/Gods and has chosen Lucy. Octavia fears her sister too weak to Bind Ra- binding the demon gives them power over it, if they fail at the binding then the opposite hold true and they lose everything. If Lucy fails, Octavia will have to kill her.
But Ra has whispered to Octavia that she is the stronger of the two sisters and should be the one to have Ra. That they should hold the Scroll together, pushing Octavia’s weaker Demon Khun and Lucy, out of the way altogether.
***
This was one of the my more interesting reads so far. I really loved the whole set-up with the magic, the God’s and the way they’re bound to the family and the way an aspect of the demon stays with the girl it has chosen- Lucy’s Ra is a falcon and Octavia’s Kuhn a dog, etc.
I also liked how the other families all had their specialties. Drussus’ and his family are Weather Mages. Carlo is a Borgia; of poisoner fame- so obviously they’re alchemists. And Lucy’s family, have bound familiars/demons (though Lucy’s mothers’ side were Blood mages). It felt like there was attention spent on making the different family’s magic fit together in the world of this story. Of course, more care was spent on the Klaereon girls, but it did make me wonder if the author has each or the families magic worked out to the same degree and if any of the other families would play a bigger part in upcoming books.
***
Lucy and Octavia-
I was surprised to find Lucy to be more head-strong than I expected. We know right away she has a good heart because she tries to save her sister from having to do the awful deed of killing her when she ultimately fails at the binding. But there is also a fair amount of time establishing that Lucy is and seen as the weaker sister. She is a little person; she is deformed, in her fathers’ eyes and persecuted because of her doll-like size. She even sees herself this way. So, it sort of threw me off when we get back to her pov again and she is more assertive than we see her in the beginning when she was deciding whether or not to jump into the canal.
Of the girls, I found Octavia the more interesting of the two, whereas Lucy (at least in the beginning) was being pulled around by the story other characters, Octavia was more proactive and led hers. There was a bit more layering to her character as she wrestles with right and wrong and the pressures from everyone that surrounds her to take want she wants and justifying it to herself even though she knows she shouldn’t do it. There is even a bit of that “bad girl wants the bad sex” kind of trope.
In some ways this book felt more like it was about Octavia, and her struggles, than about Lucy being a Vessel for Ra. I was ok with that though because both girls’ stories had potential to be interesting.
Story-wise it’s pretty much what it says on the box. The summary takes us through a good half the book and was a quick read. The second half was a little weaker- it wasn’t as interesting to me or as tightly written but ends in a good spot with lots of room for future stories.
My biggest issues were to do with the repetitive thoughts and info- with everybody and about everything. From the reasons for wanting the scroll and what it does, to having to win in the binding ritual and the consequences of not winning etc. so, a lot of the back-end felt like we had been there done that. Especially with Octavia, who is back and forth on killing Lucy. I almost dropped the story over this.
Also, in scenes with multiple characters or where a lot was happening- the talking could be whippingly fast and the actions convoluted- making it tough to follow what was going on or who was talking.
Tldr: This was a really cool concept and I enjoyed it; particularly the first half of the story.
my score- spfbo5 4.5/10 or 3 stars
https://starlitbook.com/2019/07/30/sp...
The Gods of Egypt have been banished to the abyss and called demons, the Solomon Scroll may hold the key to freeing them. The Klaereon family holds that scroll and Lucy and Octavia, are inline to inherit it- depending on which of them is the strongest daughter and survives the attempt at binding their demon familiars.
Ra is the strongest of the Demons/Gods and has chosen Lucy. Octavia fears her sister too weak to Bind Ra- binding the demon gives them power over it, if they fail at the binding then the opposite hold true and they lose everything. If Lucy fails, Octavia will have to kill her.
But Ra has whispered to Octavia that she is the stronger of the two sisters and should be the one to have Ra. That they should hold the Scroll together, pushing Octavia’s weaker Demon Khun and Lucy, out of the way altogether.
***
This was one of the my more interesting reads so far. I really loved the whole set-up with the magic, the God’s and the way they’re bound to the family and the way an aspect of the demon stays with the girl it has chosen- Lucy’s Ra is a falcon and Octavia’s Kuhn a dog, etc.
I also liked how the other families all had their specialties. Drussus’ and his family are Weather Mages. Carlo is a Borgia; of poisoner fame- so obviously they’re alchemists. And Lucy’s family, have bound familiars/demons (though Lucy’s mothers’ side were Blood mages). It felt like there was attention spent on making the different family’s magic fit together in the world of this story. Of course, more care was spent on the Klaereon girls, but it did make me wonder if the author has each or the families magic worked out to the same degree and if any of the other families would play a bigger part in upcoming books.
***
Lucy and Octavia-
I was surprised to find Lucy to be more head-strong than I expected. We know right away she has a good heart because she tries to save her sister from having to do the awful deed of killing her when she ultimately fails at the binding. But there is also a fair amount of time establishing that Lucy is and seen as the weaker sister. She is a little person; she is deformed, in her fathers’ eyes and persecuted because of her doll-like size. She even sees herself this way. So, it sort of threw me off when we get back to her pov again and she is more assertive than we see her in the beginning when she was deciding whether or not to jump into the canal.
Of the girls, I found Octavia the more interesting of the two, whereas Lucy (at least in the beginning) was being pulled around by the story other characters, Octavia was more proactive and led hers. There was a bit more layering to her character as she wrestles with right and wrong and the pressures from everyone that surrounds her to take want she wants and justifying it to herself even though she knows she shouldn’t do it. There is even a bit of that “bad girl wants the bad sex” kind of trope.
In some ways this book felt more like it was about Octavia, and her struggles, than about Lucy being a Vessel for Ra. I was ok with that though because both girls’ stories had potential to be interesting.
Story-wise it’s pretty much what it says on the box. The summary takes us through a good half the book and was a quick read. The second half was a little weaker- it wasn’t as interesting to me or as tightly written but ends in a good spot with lots of room for future stories.
My biggest issues were to do with the repetitive thoughts and info- with everybody and about everything. From the reasons for wanting the scroll and what it does, to having to win in the binding ritual and the consequences of not winning etc. so, a lot of the back-end felt like we had been there done that. Especially with Octavia, who is back and forth on killing Lucy. I almost dropped the story over this.
Also, in scenes with multiple characters or where a lot was happening- the talking could be whippingly fast and the actions convoluted- making it tough to follow what was going on or who was talking.
Tldr: This was a really cool concept and I enjoyed it; particularly the first half of the story.
my score- spfbo5 4.5/10 or 3 stars
https://starlitbook.com/2019/07/30/sp...
August 20, 2017
Lucy and Octavia are born into the Klaereon family. For centuries their family has been bound to a contract to fight demons imprisoned in the abyss by King Solomon. At birth, a demon attaches to each child born to the family, acting as a familiar or companion until the child's 16th birthday. On that day, a battle ensues. If the Binder wins the battle, the demon is returned to the abyss to be summoned only for magic or, if evil, the demon can be banished. But if the Binder loses the battle, the demon takes control, using the Binder for its own purposes.
Lucy is seen as weak. Octavia is strong. The family is afraid that Lucy will lose her fight with Ra, and that the demon will be free to unleash its evil on the world. So, Octavia is trained to kill her sister on the day she is to battle Ra. Things go horribly wrong however -- Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is murdered. Lucy comes back from the dead, determined to save her sister from the clutches of Ra.
This book is exciting and interesting! At the beginning, I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out what was going on and why....but as the story unfolds and more details revealed, I was totally hooked! I don't want to reveal too much of the plot in this review so there aren't any spoilers. All I'm going to say is that the plot, characters and setting of this book really impressed me. Very enjoyable fantasy novel!
The cover art is gorgeous! And the colored illustrations inside the book were awesome, too! This book will release from Curiousity Quills Press on September 12, 2017!
The Vessel of Ra is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. I can't wait to see how the rest of this series unfolds! For more information on the author, check out her website: https://cathschaffstump.com/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiousity Quills Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Lucy is seen as weak. Octavia is strong. The family is afraid that Lucy will lose her fight with Ra, and that the demon will be free to unleash its evil on the world. So, Octavia is trained to kill her sister on the day she is to battle Ra. Things go horribly wrong however -- Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is murdered. Lucy comes back from the dead, determined to save her sister from the clutches of Ra.
This book is exciting and interesting! At the beginning, I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out what was going on and why....but as the story unfolds and more details revealed, I was totally hooked! I don't want to reveal too much of the plot in this review so there aren't any spoilers. All I'm going to say is that the plot, characters and setting of this book really impressed me. Very enjoyable fantasy novel!
The cover art is gorgeous! And the colored illustrations inside the book were awesome, too! This book will release from Curiousity Quills Press on September 12, 2017!
The Vessel of Ra is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. I can't wait to see how the rest of this series unfolds! For more information on the author, check out her website: https://cathschaffstump.com/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiousity Quills Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
September 8, 2017
The book description peaked my interest. I love magic and I love historical novels. The book had plenty of magic, but not much on the 19th century aspect. While the setting was in the mid 1800s, this wasn't blatantly obvious throughout the book. That wasn't a deal breaker for me, though, so I happily continued to read. I enjoyed the book, and it definitely kept me engaged. I loved the mixing of religions. Christianity and Egyptian mythology. The end was a little "eh" for me, but I think others will like it. It just had too much going on, and I kept wanting it to hurry up. BUT I am admittedly impatient, so I think that is more a "me issue" than a "book issue." I would definitely recommend and think other readers will enjoy this new world the author is creating.
August 29, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting book with a good blend of historical and fantasy elements. I liked the setting in Venice and also the inclusion of the last remnants of the Borgia family as magicians. The blending of Egyptian gods with Christian mythology and demons was also somewhat of a new take on blending mythologies. Lucy was really great as well, and I don't think I've ever actually read a book like this where the main character is a dwarf. It added a new layer to the story where she had to fight against people's prejudice against her, even though she was actually the strongest magician there and they just couldn't see past her appearance.
My big complaint is that although there is a reason that this particular family ended up with this scroll where they are connected with these gods/demons, it's still basically a story about white British people controlling Egyptian gods and I think it would have been so easy to make the family Egyptian instead. Considering the history between those two countries in particular it was just something that stuck out like a sore thumb to me.
This was an interesting book with a good blend of historical and fantasy elements. I liked the setting in Venice and also the inclusion of the last remnants of the Borgia family as magicians. The blending of Egyptian gods with Christian mythology and demons was also somewhat of a new take on blending mythologies. Lucy was really great as well, and I don't think I've ever actually read a book like this where the main character is a dwarf. It added a new layer to the story where she had to fight against people's prejudice against her, even though she was actually the strongest magician there and they just couldn't see past her appearance.
My big complaint is that although there is a reason that this particular family ended up with this scroll where they are connected with these gods/demons, it's still basically a story about white British people controlling Egyptian gods and I think it would have been so easy to make the family Egyptian instead. Considering the history between those two countries in particular it was just something that stuck out like a sore thumb to me.
September 9, 2017
I enjoyed the sweeping magic of this book that manages to tie together mythology, demonology, and history into a fascinating whole.
December 8, 2018
The Vessel of Ra hook me right from the first page. The story starts in 19th century Venice where sixteen-year-old Lucy is facing a problem of literally mythic proportions. I’m not going to say a lot about the plot or world building because I don’t want to spoil the novel. But it was a wonderful, twisty blend of multiple cultures and mythologies—with magic and world building galore.
The story takes the characters to a variety of locations. All the settings came to life for me. At the same time, the descriptions of them never overshadowed the action and characters. The characters themselves were multifaceted with diverse goals and shocking secrets. It was easy to sympathize even with the most malevolent characters, and there was loads of malevolence to be found. In some ways the darkness and magic in The Vessel of Ra reminded me of early gothic novels, with demons and devils that were truly terrifying. The one thing I might mention is that this novel is classified as YA, but it does have a sexual situation that might be more suited to older YA and adult readers.
The story takes the characters to a variety of locations. All the settings came to life for me. At the same time, the descriptions of them never overshadowed the action and characters. The characters themselves were multifaceted with diverse goals and shocking secrets. It was easy to sympathize even with the most malevolent characters, and there was loads of malevolence to be found. In some ways the darkness and magic in The Vessel of Ra reminded me of early gothic novels, with demons and devils that were truly terrifying. The one thing I might mention is that this novel is classified as YA, but it does have a sexual situation that might be more suited to older YA and adult readers.
November 26, 2018
I’ll admit it’s a bit nerve-wracking as a book blogger to be approached by an author you know personally to read their book especially when you consider that author a friend. But when learned that Catherine Schaff-Stump’s newest novel, The Vessel of Ra, involved historical fiction, Egyptian mythology and magic, I knew I had to take the chance and give the book a shot.
The Vessel of Ra is a solid read. Every minute of the story is packed with action, mystery and layers of secrets. Lucy and Octavia’s family, the Klareons, has a unique bond with the demons whose origins are rooted in Egyptian mythology. As Lucy learns through her adventures in Venice, she and her sister have not been told everything about the deal her ancestor made to control the demons. As Lucy learns the truth, she becomes even more determined to fix things leading to a shocking turn in the story which was upsetting for this reader. View Spoiler »
Then there is Carlo whose last name may sound super familiar to history buffs—Borgia. Carlo’s family also has some secrets and Carlo has been kept in the dark by his mother and his grandfather. Carlo finds Lucy’s cause noble and he quickly becomes her champion even though he doesn’t fully understand the fight. In fact, the secrets kept by both families play a pivotal role in the action of the story as once Carlo and Lucy meet, their fates are tied together as they race against the clock and towards Lucy’s inevitable trial with Ra.
All of the characters absolutely shine and are unique. Schaff-Stump does an excellent job describing the characters in way that doesn’t bog down the story. It is easy to visualize everyone in story including the fantastical creatures like Ra, Isis and Thoth. The strong descriptions extend to locations the story takes place—occupied Venice—Carlo’s hometown, the Underworld (which reminded me of scenes from the movie What Dreams May Come) and England—the location Lucy and Octavia’s magical estate. In fact, bits of Venice’s history were hinted at enough (Venice was occupied by Austria?!) that I was curious to know more, but with so much going on in the story already, there’s no way the author could have included more especially when the politics of Venice at the time the story was set didn’t directly influence the issues the characters were encountering.
The only downside of the book is there is a lot of setup. While the layers of secrets and how they intertwine and intersect do drive the story forward as the characters uncover the lies and half-truths, the full truth is never revealed. The reader just encounters more secrets and more people (or demons) unwilling to reveal what they are truly after. This becomes a bit wearisome by the end of the novel. However, I don’t believe it would prevent me from reading the next book in the series. I have a feeling this is a long play and patience will be required as the series progresses. After all the Klareons and Borgias have been working in the shadows and keeping secrets for centuries. Who am I, a simple reader just entering their saga, for expecting that to come unraveled in just one book?
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
The Vessel of Ra is a solid read. Every minute of the story is packed with action, mystery and layers of secrets. Lucy and Octavia’s family, the Klareons, has a unique bond with the demons whose origins are rooted in Egyptian mythology. As Lucy learns through her adventures in Venice, she and her sister have not been told everything about the deal her ancestor made to control the demons. As Lucy learns the truth, she becomes even more determined to fix things leading to a shocking turn in the story which was upsetting for this reader. View Spoiler »
Then there is Carlo whose last name may sound super familiar to history buffs—Borgia. Carlo’s family also has some secrets and Carlo has been kept in the dark by his mother and his grandfather. Carlo finds Lucy’s cause noble and he quickly becomes her champion even though he doesn’t fully understand the fight. In fact, the secrets kept by both families play a pivotal role in the action of the story as once Carlo and Lucy meet, their fates are tied together as they race against the clock and towards Lucy’s inevitable trial with Ra.
All of the characters absolutely shine and are unique. Schaff-Stump does an excellent job describing the characters in way that doesn’t bog down the story. It is easy to visualize everyone in story including the fantastical creatures like Ra, Isis and Thoth. The strong descriptions extend to locations the story takes place—occupied Venice—Carlo’s hometown, the Underworld (which reminded me of scenes from the movie What Dreams May Come) and England—the location Lucy and Octavia’s magical estate. In fact, bits of Venice’s history were hinted at enough (Venice was occupied by Austria?!) that I was curious to know more, but with so much going on in the story already, there’s no way the author could have included more especially when the politics of Venice at the time the story was set didn’t directly influence the issues the characters were encountering.
The only downside of the book is there is a lot of setup. While the layers of secrets and how they intertwine and intersect do drive the story forward as the characters uncover the lies and half-truths, the full truth is never revealed. The reader just encounters more secrets and more people (or demons) unwilling to reveal what they are truly after. This becomes a bit wearisome by the end of the novel. However, I don’t believe it would prevent me from reading the next book in the series. I have a feeling this is a long play and patience will be required as the series progresses. After all the Klareons and Borgias have been working in the shadows and keeping secrets for centuries. Who am I, a simple reader just entering their saga, for expecting that to come unraveled in just one book?
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
October 9, 2017
"The Vessel of Ra" by Catherine Schaff-Stump is a fresh, complex and incredibly nuanced novel of magic and history.
The sub-genre of fantastic historical fiction is relatively new to contemporary readers. I suspect the author will make a name for herself as one of the pioneers of the form. The closest analogy I can think of for the overall "feel" of this novel is Mary Robinette Kowal's "Shades of Milk and Honey" novel.
"Vessel of Ra" features several unique elements which drew me into the work quickly:
- an interesting YA vibe and narrative structure
- raising of stakes quickly and unapologetically
- a physically challenged protagonist (no spoilers here - sorry!)
- rich and subtle narrative elements which kept me furiously flipping pages
One of the other elements which I enjoyed tremendously was the sense of sibling rivalry taken to absurd yet perfectly natural Victorian extremes. The interplay between Lucy and her sister, Octavia, was simply mesmerizing.
The author also spares no effort in creating vivid and vibrant secondary characters. Each person on the page has their own motives, own flaws and virtues which come into play during the course of the work.
Another element of this novel which truly impressed me was the sheer amount of research which must have been done to make details and plot so authentic. There were innumerable places in the novel in which the author might have cut corners or taken a less genuine method of getting from plot point A to B - yet it is all there in its glory.
The peril and sense of personal relationships is complex and deviously layered into plot after plot - but by this point I was completely invested in each of the characters I enjoyed - and hoping the "bad guys" would fail.
Just a very complex, nuanced and RICHLY rewarding read.
I look forward to other works in the series.
The sub-genre of fantastic historical fiction is relatively new to contemporary readers. I suspect the author will make a name for herself as one of the pioneers of the form. The closest analogy I can think of for the overall "feel" of this novel is Mary Robinette Kowal's "Shades of Milk and Honey" novel.
"Vessel of Ra" features several unique elements which drew me into the work quickly:
- an interesting YA vibe and narrative structure
- raising of stakes quickly and unapologetically
- a physically challenged protagonist (no spoilers here - sorry!)
- rich and subtle narrative elements which kept me furiously flipping pages
One of the other elements which I enjoyed tremendously was the sense of sibling rivalry taken to absurd yet perfectly natural Victorian extremes. The interplay between Lucy and her sister, Octavia, was simply mesmerizing.
The author also spares no effort in creating vivid and vibrant secondary characters. Each person on the page has their own motives, own flaws and virtues which come into play during the course of the work.
Another element of this novel which truly impressed me was the sheer amount of research which must have been done to make details and plot so authentic. There were innumerable places in the novel in which the author might have cut corners or taken a less genuine method of getting from plot point A to B - yet it is all there in its glory.
The peril and sense of personal relationships is complex and deviously layered into plot after plot - but by this point I was completely invested in each of the characters I enjoyed - and hoping the "bad guys" would fail.
Just a very complex, nuanced and RICHLY rewarding read.
I look forward to other works in the series.
August 24, 2017
The Vessel of Ra by Catherine Schaff-Stump
Book One of The Klaereon Scroll #1
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Little Summary:
So, this dark fantasy and historical fiction story follow three main characters: Lucy Klaeron, Carlos Borgia, and Lucy's older sister Octavia. The all three are so different that it made this read so enjoyable. There is deceit, betrayal, love affairs, justice, violence, magical beings. What more can you ask for in a book? So, Lucy and Octavia are born into the Klaereon family. For centuries their family has been bound to a contract to fight the demons that were imprisoned in the abyss by King Solomon. At birth, a demon attaches to each child born to the family that is a Binder, acting as a familiar until the child's sixteenth birthday. On that day, a trial unfolds. Either the Binder wins and binds the demon to them or the demon wins and binds the Binder to them.
Lucy is appeared as weak. (And most of her family make her believe she's worthless) Octavia is the strong one according to everyone else. The family is afraid that Lucy will lose her fight with Ra, and that the demon will be free to unleash its evil on the world. Octavia is trained to kill her sister on the day she is to battle Ra, not even considering helping her sister either just killing her. Things go to the deep end, Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is murdered. Lucy comes back from the dead, determined to save her sister from the clutches of Ra.
First off, behold the beauty of the cover!
I will not lie when I saw this cover on Netgalley I jumped on it without even reading what it was about. A fatal flaw about me! But I'm so glad I requested this and got it! It was amazing!
While reading I recommend:
Tea: I was drinking Mint Mosaic Green tea while reading this because I needed the caffeine to stay up. I couldn't put this book down!
Playlist: The Vessel of Ra
Pros:
I loved the Egyptian undertones and different kinds of lore wrapped into one intriguing fantasy world.
The flashbacks of all the main characters really shed the light on how they got to this point in their lives. I admired how beautifully Catherine Schaff-Stump wove the past and present seamlessly into this book!
The characters were all on different sides of the moral and ethical scales. Which I personally loved.
The romance in this is very heated! (There is more action than romance too!) And there is a little love triangle thing going on. And it's not the kind where it's annoying either. It fits and saddens me, to be honest.
When the action and violence were happening, my heart was pounding and was reading faster just to see who was going to survive!
Lucy, I loved her character and also wanted to shake her, in the beginning, to tell her she was beautiful and unique! Of course, though she couldn't hear me! When she came back from the dead though is when she really made me root for her. She was so badass!
Carlos Borgia was my absolute favorite lanky little boy I want to protect from EVERYTHING! He's honorable and wants to do whats right always. His grandfather, on the other hand, is well... not as honorable.
And Octavia... well I certainly appreciated having a character that had a dark side with her lust for power and love. It's human to want. And she definitely wanted all of it. She's a character I'm between loving and hating for some reason.
The demon familiars were my favorite side characters! Their sass was everything to me! And Khun can do as he pleases if I was in that book(: I adored him.
Cons:
That I have to wait for the second book now!
This book will release from Curiosity Quills Press on September 12, 2017!
Recommend:
I gave this a five-star rating simply because it was a fast read, and I really enjoyed the world in The Vessel of Ra. Plus, totally reread material! And for me to reread a book that is a truly great piece of work(:
Get this book when it comes out, you will regret it if you don't! I know I will be buying a physical copy to add to my bookshelf :)
*I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*
Check out my blog with the review there(:
https://teawithrosestomes.wordpress.c...
Book One of The Klaereon Scroll #1
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Little Summary:
So, this dark fantasy and historical fiction story follow three main characters: Lucy Klaeron, Carlos Borgia, and Lucy's older sister Octavia. The all three are so different that it made this read so enjoyable. There is deceit, betrayal, love affairs, justice, violence, magical beings. What more can you ask for in a book? So, Lucy and Octavia are born into the Klaereon family. For centuries their family has been bound to a contract to fight the demons that were imprisoned in the abyss by King Solomon. At birth, a demon attaches to each child born to the family that is a Binder, acting as a familiar until the child's sixteenth birthday. On that day, a trial unfolds. Either the Binder wins and binds the demon to them or the demon wins and binds the Binder to them.
Lucy is appeared as weak. (And most of her family make her believe she's worthless) Octavia is the strong one according to everyone else. The family is afraid that Lucy will lose her fight with Ra, and that the demon will be free to unleash its evil on the world. Octavia is trained to kill her sister on the day she is to battle Ra, not even considering helping her sister either just killing her. Things go to the deep end, Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is murdered. Lucy comes back from the dead, determined to save her sister from the clutches of Ra.
First off, behold the beauty of the cover!
I will not lie when I saw this cover on Netgalley I jumped on it without even reading what it was about. A fatal flaw about me! But I'm so glad I requested this and got it! It was amazing!
While reading I recommend:
Tea: I was drinking Mint Mosaic Green tea while reading this because I needed the caffeine to stay up. I couldn't put this book down!
Playlist: The Vessel of Ra
Pros:
I loved the Egyptian undertones and different kinds of lore wrapped into one intriguing fantasy world.
The flashbacks of all the main characters really shed the light on how they got to this point in their lives. I admired how beautifully Catherine Schaff-Stump wove the past and present seamlessly into this book!
The characters were all on different sides of the moral and ethical scales. Which I personally loved.
The romance in this is very heated! (There is more action than romance too!) And there is a little love triangle thing going on. And it's not the kind where it's annoying either. It fits and saddens me, to be honest.
When the action and violence were happening, my heart was pounding and was reading faster just to see who was going to survive!
Lucy, I loved her character and also wanted to shake her, in the beginning, to tell her she was beautiful and unique! Of course, though she couldn't hear me! When she came back from the dead though is when she really made me root for her. She was so badass!
Carlos Borgia was my absolute favorite lanky little boy I want to protect from EVERYTHING! He's honorable and wants to do whats right always. His grandfather, on the other hand, is well... not as honorable.
And Octavia... well I certainly appreciated having a character that had a dark side with her lust for power and love. It's human to want. And she definitely wanted all of it. She's a character I'm between loving and hating for some reason.
The demon familiars were my favorite side characters! Their sass was everything to me! And Khun can do as he pleases if I was in that book(: I adored him.
Cons:
That I have to wait for the second book now!
This book will release from Curiosity Quills Press on September 12, 2017!
Recommend:
I gave this a five-star rating simply because it was a fast read, and I really enjoyed the world in The Vessel of Ra. Plus, totally reread material! And for me to reread a book that is a truly great piece of work(:
Get this book when it comes out, you will regret it if you don't! I know I will be buying a physical copy to add to my bookshelf :)
*I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*
Check out my blog with the review there(:
https://teawithrosestomes.wordpress.c...
September 12, 2017
I requested this book because the synopsis was intriguing. The pace was a bit slow for me, but it was interesting. Once the pace picked up, boy did it! You have murder, magic, Egyptian mythology... INTRIGUE! BLOODY INTRIGUE!
The setting of Venice is beautifully described. I don't tend to like books that have flashbacks, but this was so well done and it's rare that the author gets it so right. It was amazing to see the thought process that went into everyone's decision making, leading them to any particular moment.
Lucy is an amazing character and she's a total badass. I loved her, even though at times she frustrated me. Carlos may have been my favorite character. There was something so pure about him, it made yippy want to protect him from all the dangers in the world. I'm still deciding on how I feel about Octavia. I loved her because she's realistic, but I hate her because she's realistic. Sign of great writing.
I can't wait until the next installment!
The setting of Venice is beautifully described. I don't tend to like books that have flashbacks, but this was so well done and it's rare that the author gets it so right. It was amazing to see the thought process that went into everyone's decision making, leading them to any particular moment.
Lucy is an amazing character and she's a total badass. I loved her, even though at times she frustrated me. Carlos may have been my favorite character. There was something so pure about him, it made yippy want to protect him from all the dangers in the world. I'm still deciding on how I feel about Octavia. I loved her because she's realistic, but I hate her because she's realistic. Sign of great writing.
I can't wait until the next installment!
August 31, 2017
The Vessel of Ra is a unique blend of dark fantasy and historical fiction with plenty of surprises. Seriously, buckle your seatbelt because the speed of this plot is breakneck.
What I loved about the book was the blend of myth with fantasy elements. I thought the story was very unique. There wasn’t another book I could really compare this too, which is great. Schaff-Stump weaves a terrifically complex storyline with varied characters and diverse settings. I loved seeing the Egyptian gods and elements of Biblical fiction blended in an entertaining way.
The main thing I didn’t like was the lack of reaction to events as they happened. Significant moments would occur, and I didn’t believe what I was reading at first because there were no emotional shockwaves that I could relate to. So I would have liked if the author had taken a few more sentences to ‘feel’ these chapters, because really big unexpected things happen! Additionally, things were a bit gory for me, but this is a minor complaint.
Schaff-Stump has a very intriguing and page-turning story. I was impressed where the story went. My only wish is that Schaff-Stump would have been a bit more time with her characters sitting in the emotions of a moment. Otherwise, recommend!
I received an advance review copy from publisher, Curiosity Quills. A HUGE thank you to for this opportunity to read and review. My opinions are unbiased.
What I loved about the book was the blend of myth with fantasy elements. I thought the story was very unique. There wasn’t another book I could really compare this too, which is great. Schaff-Stump weaves a terrifically complex storyline with varied characters and diverse settings. I loved seeing the Egyptian gods and elements of Biblical fiction blended in an entertaining way.
The main thing I didn’t like was the lack of reaction to events as they happened. Significant moments would occur, and I didn’t believe what I was reading at first because there were no emotional shockwaves that I could relate to. So I would have liked if the author had taken a few more sentences to ‘feel’ these chapters, because really big unexpected things happen! Additionally, things were a bit gory for me, but this is a minor complaint.
Schaff-Stump has a very intriguing and page-turning story. I was impressed where the story went. My only wish is that Schaff-Stump would have been a bit more time with her characters sitting in the emotions of a moment. Otherwise, recommend!
I received an advance review copy from publisher, Curiosity Quills. A HUGE thank you to for this opportunity to read and review. My opinions are unbiased.
September 6, 2017
I did like the blend of fantasy and Egyptian myths overall. I enjoyed looking into Octavia's wants and desires prevented from her becoming the savior. She was understandable at sometimes and infuriating in others.. II just found it a bit annoying there were little emotional response from characters in certain events. The demon familiars were the best. They had the right amount of sass without being obnoxious
August 21, 2017
Thanks to the author, Catherine Schaff-Stump for offering me an ARC of this historical fantasy in exchange for an honest review. I'm a huge fan of historical fantasy, and this first novel in a series hits on many of my favorite elements of that genre.
The world of 19th century Venice that the author builds in this book is rich and vibrant. You can *feel* it as you read -- at times opulent and elegant, and at other times thick and sticky with swamp water. It's into this world that she blends the other ingredients: complex, conflicted characters, each with their own struggles and character arcs; a unique magic system, based partially on the mythology of ancient Egypt, partially on the struggle between angelic and demonic forces; and a plot revolving around a many-sided power struggle and the lengths that two families will go to in order to achieve their goals.
There were parts of the story that were a bit too action-heavy for my personal tastes, and there were some storylines and conflicts that I found more interesting than others (which tends to happen to me in novels with multiple points of view), but overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the sequel!
The world of 19th century Venice that the author builds in this book is rich and vibrant. You can *feel* it as you read -- at times opulent and elegant, and at other times thick and sticky with swamp water. It's into this world that she blends the other ingredients: complex, conflicted characters, each with their own struggles and character arcs; a unique magic system, based partially on the mythology of ancient Egypt, partially on the struggle between angelic and demonic forces; and a plot revolving around a many-sided power struggle and the lengths that two families will go to in order to achieve their goals.
There were parts of the story that were a bit too action-heavy for my personal tastes, and there were some storylines and conflicts that I found more interesting than others (which tends to happen to me in novels with multiple points of view), but overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the sequel!
June 30, 2018
Catherine Schaff-Stump’s novel “The Vessel of Ra” is a fascinating tale of abuse, betrayal, and difficult choices which takes place in early 19th century Venice. The reader is immediately introduced to Lucy Klaereon, the younger of two sisters, whose family have a long history of binding demons. Upon birth, some of the family are paired with a demon who takes the form of an animal familiar. These demons must be bound to the family member’s will on their sixteenth birthdays, or they will be killed to keep the demon from possessing a human host. Lucy, approaching her sixteenth birthday, and paired with a falcon named Ra, knows that she cannot win against him, and her older sister Octavia will be forced to kill her when she loses.
Stakes are heightened when her life is saved by Carlo, a young Venetian whose grandfather knows far more about magic than anyone expects. Soon Lucy and Carlo are caught up in multiple conflicting conspiracies, with everyone maneuvering them into carrying out their differing agendas. Some want Lucy dead, others want her alive, but all of them wish to use her, and some will betray her. And Octavia has her own secrets, which are about to become deadly.
This is also a coming of age story: Lucy and Carlo must both learn that their heritage is not what it seems, and find their strengths while their enemies exploit their weaknesses. They will find that those they trust most may be the least trustworthy.
The characters are well-drawn, and multi-faceted: rather than being caricatures, their complex knots of emotional conflict ring very true, and it particularly that complexity of character which elevates this book from merely competent to excellent.
This is the first book in a planned series, and though the ending does wrap up the main conflicts of this particular story, there are at least three threads which are left for future books. I am looking forward to reading the next one!
Stakes are heightened when her life is saved by Carlo, a young Venetian whose grandfather knows far more about magic than anyone expects. Soon Lucy and Carlo are caught up in multiple conflicting conspiracies, with everyone maneuvering them into carrying out their differing agendas. Some want Lucy dead, others want her alive, but all of them wish to use her, and some will betray her. And Octavia has her own secrets, which are about to become deadly.
This is also a coming of age story: Lucy and Carlo must both learn that their heritage is not what it seems, and find their strengths while their enemies exploit their weaknesses. They will find that those they trust most may be the least trustworthy.
The characters are well-drawn, and multi-faceted: rather than being caricatures, their complex knots of emotional conflict ring very true, and it particularly that complexity of character which elevates this book from merely competent to excellent.
This is the first book in a planned series, and though the ending does wrap up the main conflicts of this particular story, there are at least three threads which are left for future books. I am looking forward to reading the next one!
April 26, 2019
The book, set in the 1800s, starts with a nice young man, Carlo, a hidden descendant of the Italian renaissance’s famed evil Borgia family, rescuing Lucy Klaereon who tries to drown herself in a Venice canal rather than allow herself to be possessed. This leads to the magical Borgia family clashing with Lucy’s English family… a family that has made a historical pact with demons.
Lucy’s family has a long history of binding demons to their offspring. Upon birth, some of the family are paired with a demon who takes the form of an animal familiar. The girl, when she turns 16, is promised to be the vessel of Ra—yes, the Egyptian Ra—who is not exactly a demon. These “demons” must be bound to the family member’s will on their sixteenth birthdays, or the person will be killed to keep the demon from possessing a human host. Lucy knows that she cannot win against Ra, will not allow herself to be possessed, and that her older sister Octavia will be forced to kill her when she loses.
Carlo’s grandfather Paolo Borgia helps Lucy, but you soon discover it’s for his own reasons. Then Lucy and Carlo are caught up in conspiracies from both sides of their families. Some want Lucy dead, others want her alive, but all of them wish to use her. Lucy even dies, but that does not stop her for long. And worse than his scheming family, Carlo finds out things about himself that are hard to deal with.
Meanwhile Lucy’s sister Octavia has been keeping secrets of her own, and those machinations may be the most devastating of all.
Great book. There’s a sequel! I’ll have to read that, too.
Lucy’s family has a long history of binding demons to their offspring. Upon birth, some of the family are paired with a demon who takes the form of an animal familiar. The girl, when she turns 16, is promised to be the vessel of Ra—yes, the Egyptian Ra—who is not exactly a demon. These “demons” must be bound to the family member’s will on their sixteenth birthdays, or the person will be killed to keep the demon from possessing a human host. Lucy knows that she cannot win against Ra, will not allow herself to be possessed, and that her older sister Octavia will be forced to kill her when she loses.
Carlo’s grandfather Paolo Borgia helps Lucy, but you soon discover it’s for his own reasons. Then Lucy and Carlo are caught up in conspiracies from both sides of their families. Some want Lucy dead, others want her alive, but all of them wish to use her. Lucy even dies, but that does not stop her for long. And worse than his scheming family, Carlo finds out things about himself that are hard to deal with.
Meanwhile Lucy’s sister Octavia has been keeping secrets of her own, and those machinations may be the most devastating of all.
Great book. There’s a sequel! I’ll have to read that, too.
October 25, 2017
I received this book on NetGalley for an honest review.
As an avid fan of Egyptology, I enjoyed the Egyptian theme of this novel and the innovative way Schaff-Stump incorporated the Egyptian Gods with a new myth story. While the book's cover and description was what peaked my interest, I quickly became immersed in the story of the Klaereon and Borgia magical families. One thing I liked about the novel, is how the underdog, Lucy was able to overcome the "fate" rendered to her by her family. The author was able to add some complexity to keep the intrigue rolling. However, there were a few things that really did mesh well with me, such as the Roman influences. While I understand that Egypt was colonized, I had hoped that Schaff-Stump would try to focalise on actual Egyptians. Furthermore, the setting in Venice thoroughly had me confused as I was waiting for it to change to some location in Egypt.. I did wonder why she chose the Egyptian Gods to bind to her characters instead of Roman or even Greek. I feel like the story would connect better if that was the case. But regardless of the faults I found, I would still read the next installment in this series. Hopefully, Schaff-Stump will go to Egypt in the next one and explain more in depth the backstory behind the Egyptian Gods, and their power struggle.
As an avid fan of Egyptology, I enjoyed the Egyptian theme of this novel and the innovative way Schaff-Stump incorporated the Egyptian Gods with a new myth story. While the book's cover and description was what peaked my interest, I quickly became immersed in the story of the Klaereon and Borgia magical families. One thing I liked about the novel, is how the underdog, Lucy was able to overcome the "fate" rendered to her by her family. The author was able to add some complexity to keep the intrigue rolling. However, there were a few things that really did mesh well with me, such as the Roman influences. While I understand that Egypt was colonized, I had hoped that Schaff-Stump would try to focalise on actual Egyptians. Furthermore, the setting in Venice thoroughly had me confused as I was waiting for it to change to some location in Egypt.. I did wonder why she chose the Egyptian Gods to bind to her characters instead of Roman or even Greek. I feel like the story would connect better if that was the case. But regardless of the faults I found, I would still read the next installment in this series. Hopefully, Schaff-Stump will go to Egypt in the next one and explain more in depth the backstory behind the Egyptian Gods, and their power struggle.
March 22, 2019
The biggest strength of this interesting story of magical families in a past Europe is the depth of backstory related to the demons from the abyss manifesting as Egyptian gods. Long ago, an ancestor of Octavia and Lucy Klaereon made a pact with the Egyptian demons promising that in every generation a demon could attach themselves to a member of the family. When the person reached adulthood there would be a trial: either the human would bind the demon and gain magic or the demon would bind the human and the family would kill them.
Both Lucy and Octavia choose different paths to escape that fate and mess up the balance between humans and demons. It will take the interference of another magical family and sacrifice to keep the most power hungry demon of all— Ra — from destroying them all.
There is a kind of vagueness to the action at times that, couples with the emotional reserve of the characters that resulted in me never immersing deeply into the story completely. However the rich backstory of what the demons are as well as the question of how Lucy and Octavia can overcome the problems of binding the demons kept me going.
I accidentally read the second book first— so it was nice to see Lucy’s emotionless state explained as well as how Carlo Borgia got mixed up in the family business.
Both Lucy and Octavia choose different paths to escape that fate and mess up the balance between humans and demons. It will take the interference of another magical family and sacrifice to keep the most power hungry demon of all— Ra — from destroying them all.
There is a kind of vagueness to the action at times that, couples with the emotional reserve of the characters that resulted in me never immersing deeply into the story completely. However the rich backstory of what the demons are as well as the question of how Lucy and Octavia can overcome the problems of binding the demons kept me going.
I accidentally read the second book first— so it was nice to see Lucy’s emotionless state explained as well as how Carlo Borgia got mixed up in the family business.
January 11, 2018
Lucy, Octavia, and Carlos make a darn great trio! Lucy, and Octavia are Demon Binders born into privilege, and wealth this must be noted. There family had been Demon Binder for 90 years, at birth a demon attaches to a child, like a companion of sorts (insert a freakishly over protective demon) . Once said child reaches their 16th birthday, a trial happens were it's Demon against Binder, if the Binder wins the Demon gets banished to the abyss but can be summoned to do bidding for Binder. If the Demon wins, they can take over said Binder's body, and walk the Earth. Bring in destruction, death, and war?? Lucy is seen as weak, Octavia is stronger, insert sibling rivalry, that is one-sided....The best parts of this book include, character development, plot, location, and of course said Demons! Like really, who knew that Demons could be so relate-able, and nice jk. You should definitely read this book it's worth it! Can't wait for #2!!
Also check out my review at my blog http://booknerdrambling.blogspot.com/
*I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiousity Quills Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own..*
Also check out my review at my blog http://booknerdrambling.blogspot.com/
*I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiousity Quills Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own..*
May 16, 2019
I've plunged into the world of The Klaereon Scroll, and I am hooked! The historical setting is rich with a complex magical history, and the ensemble cast stand is distinctive yet unified, with each character clearly articulating their own voice and world-view.
Schaff-Stump excels in creating a sense of place, making the world feel physical and present, whether that's with the murky waters of Venice or the abrasive sands of the desert.
I've already got my hands on the sequel, and I'm looking forward to diving into it!
Schaff-Stump excels in creating a sense of place, making the world feel physical and present, whether that's with the murky waters of Venice or the abrasive sands of the desert.
I've already got my hands on the sequel, and I'm looking forward to diving into it!
October 11, 2019
Fun read, and, more interesting, is her use of actual historical thought. For example, the early Church idea that the pagan gods were real, but were actually demons. It doesn't hurt to be familiar with the Ancient Egyptian mythology. BUT; BIG CAVEAT: The blurb on the back of the edition of the book that i read is essentially a synopsis of the whole plot. There are no real surprises, until perhaps the last 10-20 pages. Of course, no one would pick up the book to read without reading the blurb, so this warning is probably futile.
November 7, 2017
Very interesting story set mainly in Venice about two sisters, Gods of Ancient Egypt and the struggle of power between Gods and Humans.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I was provided a copy by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I actually really enjoyed it, though the language was a little simplistic and would be more suited to a Young Adult audience. I'd recommend this to my history-buff teenage nieces.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I was provided a copy by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I actually really enjoyed it, though the language was a little simplistic and would be more suited to a Young Adult audience. I'd recommend this to my history-buff teenage nieces.
September 29, 2017
A rich, immersive adventure.
November 4, 2017
Full review to come!
January 19, 2018
Well done
Mix of mythology and fictional history was great. Loves it and want more.Solomon, celeatials, demons and Egyptian gods(false gods) all in on good book.
Mix of mythology and fictional history was great. Loves it and want more.Solomon, celeatials, demons and Egyptian gods(false gods) all in on good book.
August 3, 2025
Want fantasy? Want an Iowan author? This is your book.
February 17, 2019
It is October 1837, and the acqua alta, the fall flooding, has come to Venice. Lucy Klareon has also come to Venice, as part of her Grand Tour, but she doesn’t plan to leave in the usual way. For on her sixteenth birthday, October 31st, All Hallows Eve, Lucy must do battle with the demon Ra, and either bind him as her servant, or become his possessed shell and be slain by her sister Octavia. Lucy’s pretty sure she’s going to lose, so she’s decided to skip the battle altogether by jumping in a canal and drowning.
Ra has no interest in losing his chance, so convinces local boy Carlo Borgia to save Lucy from her attempted suicide. Carlo, as it happens, is the last heir to the legendary family of poisoners, and his grandfather Paolo knows far more about the Klareon family of demon binders than Carlo was aware of. Paolo thinks he can find a way to release Lucy from her bond with Ra, delivering them both from the curse. But being a Borgia, he’s not exactly doing this out of pure goodness.
Meanwhile, Octavia has made a sort of peace with her own demon, Khun; she’s known for years that Lucy cannot possibly bind Ra properly, so it will be up to her to kill Lucy and bind Ra herself (except that no binder can control two demons, so what’s up with that?) Her new husband Drusus (from a weather mage clan) is just now discovering just what the Klareon rituals really involve. He’s not keen on the idea of killing anyone.
The various characters’ plans clash, and in the end it’s up to Lucy to save the day. Slight problem though, at this point in the story, she’s dead!
This is the first book in the Klareon Scroll fantasy series, with the author’s notes indicating that this tome is essential background for the book she started writing first. I’m happy to say that it also works just fine as a standalone story. The fantasy element of families that have bloodline magical powers works fairly well, and there’s plenty of plothooks. (For example, there’s a reason why the demons have Egyptian names, but there’s backstory as to how they got into that position that’s not immediately clear.)
I like that most of the characters are trying to do what they consider the right thing, even if their actions are objectively ruinous and their motivations are selfish. In some cases it’s because they’ve been lied to or had important facts concealed from them, which makes self-defeating actions more likely.
Content issues: As mentioned, Lucy tries to commit suicide. She’s a little person, and suffers prejudice due to this. Carlo’s father was born out of wedlock, and his mixed heritage makes him the subject of family strife. Lucy is emotionally abused by her father, who also deliberately stunts her education. There is marital infidelity in the current day.
This is listed as a young adult book, but I think fits more comfortably at the higher end of that range, almost in “new adult.”
Recommended, then, primarily to fantasy readers senior high level and up, with a special interest in family drama.
Ra has no interest in losing his chance, so convinces local boy Carlo Borgia to save Lucy from her attempted suicide. Carlo, as it happens, is the last heir to the legendary family of poisoners, and his grandfather Paolo knows far more about the Klareon family of demon binders than Carlo was aware of. Paolo thinks he can find a way to release Lucy from her bond with Ra, delivering them both from the curse. But being a Borgia, he’s not exactly doing this out of pure goodness.
Meanwhile, Octavia has made a sort of peace with her own demon, Khun; she’s known for years that Lucy cannot possibly bind Ra properly, so it will be up to her to kill Lucy and bind Ra herself (except that no binder can control two demons, so what’s up with that?) Her new husband Drusus (from a weather mage clan) is just now discovering just what the Klareon rituals really involve. He’s not keen on the idea of killing anyone.
The various characters’ plans clash, and in the end it’s up to Lucy to save the day. Slight problem though, at this point in the story, she’s dead!
This is the first book in the Klareon Scroll fantasy series, with the author’s notes indicating that this tome is essential background for the book she started writing first. I’m happy to say that it also works just fine as a standalone story. The fantasy element of families that have bloodline magical powers works fairly well, and there’s plenty of plothooks. (For example, there’s a reason why the demons have Egyptian names, but there’s backstory as to how they got into that position that’s not immediately clear.)
I like that most of the characters are trying to do what they consider the right thing, even if their actions are objectively ruinous and their motivations are selfish. In some cases it’s because they’ve been lied to or had important facts concealed from them, which makes self-defeating actions more likely.
Content issues: As mentioned, Lucy tries to commit suicide. She’s a little person, and suffers prejudice due to this. Carlo’s father was born out of wedlock, and his mixed heritage makes him the subject of family strife. Lucy is emotionally abused by her father, who also deliberately stunts her education. There is marital infidelity in the current day.
This is listed as a young adult book, but I think fits more comfortably at the higher end of that range, almost in “new adult.”
Recommended, then, primarily to fantasy readers senior high level and up, with a special interest in family drama.
March 12, 2018
Potential Review Biases:
* I received a free eBook from the author in exact for an honest review.
* The author is a personal friend.
* I'm currently home sick and on a boatload of cold medicine.
First things first, I should offer an apology to the author. I was supposed to write up a proper review before the print edition came out but while I read quickly I write reviews slowly. As I want to do better about reviewing books this year; I figured this one should be high up on my list to reread and review, but it still took me longer than I'd planned on to get to. Sorry Cath and with that onto the reviewing!
The Vessel of Ra is a twisty story and I mean that in the very best way. Every character has their own agenda, secrets, and desires. This both the book's strength and its weakness. It's fascinating working your way through all the twists and turns, but if you don't pay close attention to whats happening; it would be easy to get lost. For those that pay attention, the rewards are worth it.
* I received a free eBook from the author in exact for an honest review.
* The author is a personal friend.
* I'm currently home sick and on a boatload of cold medicine.
First things first, I should offer an apology to the author. I was supposed to write up a proper review before the print edition came out but while I read quickly I write reviews slowly. As I want to do better about reviewing books this year; I figured this one should be high up on my list to reread and review, but it still took me longer than I'd planned on to get to. Sorry Cath and with that onto the reviewing!
The Vessel of Ra is a twisty story and I mean that in the very best way. Every character has their own agenda, secrets, and desires. This both the book's strength and its weakness. It's fascinating working your way through all the twists and turns, but if you don't pay close attention to whats happening; it would be easy to get lost. For those that pay attention, the rewards are worth it.
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