"I felt completely drawn into this strange expansive world, kept in suspense as to whether the group would be able to complete their mission. "
A meandering, epic fantasy adventure. Children of Madness by Jarrett Brandon Early draws you into the vast Titian Empire that is desperately searching for a cure to the spreading Gloomtide, a melancholic curse that leaves its people committing the most horrendous acts for seemingly no reason. The only hope, the child harvesters in a settlement of outcasts, shunned and ridiculed by the rest of society, forced to live and harvest the floral cure of a previous threat in a toxic land while they prematurely lose their parents as they succumb to The Maddening. The Sour Flower gang have great camaraderie and teamwork, but will that be enough to find the Gods and a cure for those that mistreat them. The young group of harvesters set out on an epic quest where they meet friends and foes, are waylaid and supported in a meandering adventure that seems to cover the majority of Titian. The author manages to masterfully give our group of young protagonists a naivety that endears them to many they come across, while also weaving through a maturity born from their experiences in Crimmish that sees them grow up long before their time and their experiences on their journey. This maturity shows itself in their emotional connections to each other, the joyful use of expletives by Fincher, the intelligence of Sammi and the wisdom gained through hardship. Each of the five members of the Sour Flower Gang are wholly unique and work together well; you'll fall in love with each of them as the story progresses. The scope of the world and the plotline in Children of Madness reminded me of Lord of the Rings and other epic fantasy quests - a group set off with one goal but are distracted, prevented and redirected, encounter friends and face many perils and threats on this winding journey. I felt completely drawn into this strange expansive world, kept in suspense as to whether the group would be able to complete their mission. With elements that would appeal to sci-fi, fantasy and even eco-thriller readers, this is an engaging, emotional and thrilling read.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
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