Friday, March 20, 2020

Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanne Ruth Meyer {review}

Beyond the Shadowed Earth
by Joanna Ruth Meyer
♦publisher: Page Street Kids
♦release date: January 14, 2020
♦hardcover, 400 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone

It has always been Eda’s dream to become empress, no matter the cost. Haunted by her ambition and selfishness, she’s convinced that the only way to achieve her goal is to barter with the gods. But all requests come with a price and Eda bargains away the soul of her best friend in exchange for the crown.

Years later, her hold on the empire begins to crumble and her best friend unexpectedly grows sick and dies. Gnawed by guilt and betrayal, Eda embarks on a harrowing journey to confront the very god who gave her the kingdom in the first place. However, she soon discovers that he’s trapped at the center of an otherworldly labyrinth and that her bargain with him is more complex than she ever could have imagined.

Set in the same universe as Joanna’s debut, Beneath the Haunting SeaBeyond the Shadowed Earth combines her incredible world building and lush prose with a new, villainous lead.
 

{REVIEW}
As the second book that I've read by this author, Beyond a Shadowed Earth didn't fail to astound me with the beauty of Joanne Ruth Meyer's writing. There's something about her method of spinning tales that make them feel like they are ancient and epic and all consuming.  

While I admittedly took a while to really sink into this one, it was more because I personally tend to need someone to root for and for the first long while, there was really not one likeable character---but you start to see that that is the whole point of the story. To see if Eda can improve upon and overcome her horridness, her selfishness, her despicable disregard for life if it stands in the way of what she wants. There's just no rooting for a character who willingly offers up the life of her best friend to be handed power until that comes back at her in a harsh lesson. BUT, the story itself and it's strange and at times surprising turns of events still entrapped me, I was constantly pushed on to find out where Eda's actions would take her, in some cases, just to see if Eda's character would grow---and thankfully she did. 

At it's heart this story turned out to be about finding worth and meaning in life, in love, in belief, and that what makes that up isn't always the most obvious choice. Though the push-through to the payoff may not be everyone cup of tea, I really enjoyed the experience of Eda's journey and hope that other readers will, too. I'll reach for this author's epic stories again and again!



{About The Author}

Joanna Ruth Meyer hails from Mesa, Arizona, where she lives with her dear family, a rascally feline, and an enormous grand piano. When she’s not writing, she’s trying to convince her students that Bach is actually awesome, or plotting her escape from the desert. She loves good music, thick books, looseleaf tea, rainstorms, and staring out of windows. One day, she aspires to own an old Victorian house with creaky wooden floors and a tower (for writing in, of course!).



Purchase the book:  Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

source: book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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