Completely original!
Exciting drama unfolds on the slopes of Chomolungma (Everest). Each of the characters has a reason to be putting their lives on the line in such a dangerous environment. Nima and her brother need their guide fees to rescue their father from debt. Drew wants to help Nima and find a mysterious woman he's fallen in love with. Wanda from Warsaw searches for her lost father. Jang dreams of restoring his family's dynasty to power over Nepal. When flashing glimpses of legendary yetis lead them all through a portal into the mountain, they find themselves caught up in a struggle between other-worldly beings who are trapped in "the Under."
Throughout this fast-moving story, the author strikes a superb balance between fantastic, unusual action and fascinating character development. The tale is told from multiple points of view and includes unique concepts, a very bizarre dragon, and rather peculiar antagonists with some of their thinking explored. We get to know each of the characters quite well and watch them learn from each other through dire challenges. The story explores friendship, loyalty, personal priorities, and sacrifice for love.
I was glued to this book for many nights and found my thoughts drawn to the vivid imagery of portals, yetis, and crystalline magic. If you are intrigued by the daunting adventure of mountain climbing, let yourself be swept into this rich tale of extraordinary happenings on and in Everest. I've had my own strange experiences on the slopes of Shasta and can say with certainty that this story is much more than just well-spun fantasy. If the next book in the series is as satisfying as the first, I'm in for an exciting ride.