J. Naomi Ay

Fantasy is one of the hardest things to write well. You are creating a world where things don’t happen as they do on our mundane planet and you have to make it believable. Add characters to the mix, and sometimes you feel as though you are juggling chainsaws. As you’re writing, things come to you that you never knew existed in your mind, and you have to find ways of conveying those thoughts so your reader will understand and see it as your do. It’s exhausting. That’s why I admire J. show more Naomi Ay.

In the first book of her The Two Moons of Rhenor series, Ms. Ay has created a whole new world. There are planets and moons we’ve never seen before, and kingdoms ruled by full-blooded people who make bad decisions. In an effort to unite two warring kingdoms, a marriage is arranged with the hopes of producing a king who will bring an end to war.

The result of this union is Senya, aka the boy who lit up the sky. He’s a beautiful baby with silver eyes that shine when he opens them and claws on his feet instead of toes. Senya’s mother dies in childbirth and his grandfather, the king of Mishnah, has Senya taken to a secret location, an orphan home run by the church, to protect him from the influence of his father, Sorkan, a karut from Karupatani.

While he is sequestered in the orphanage, Senya is cared for by Sister Meri, a woman who has suffered much, and she develops a deep affection for the baby. The more he is rejected by the other sisters, the more Meri loves him. As he grows, so do his powers and his beauty. His appearance attracts the unwanted attentions of the Father, the man overseeing the orphanage, and when the Father tries to force himself on Senya, the boy quickly dispatches the old priest, and he and Meri set out on their own. Senya grows up on the hard streets of Mishnah where he learns to depend on himself for his survival and develop his extraordinary powers.

Not only has the author created a this fabulously diverse new world, she has also invented names and places we’ve never heard before. The intricately woven story, held my attention from beginning to end and I look forward to delving into Part Two, My Enemy’s Son. I had the advantage of reading Meri, a sort of prequel to The Boy Who Lit Up the Sky, so I knew Meri’s background and understood her motives. Ms. Ay has published several of these novelettes to enrich the reader’s experience and add depth to an already rich tapestry. I highly recommend the series to adults who love fantasy / science fiction stories and I give it five stars. show less

The Boy Who Lit up the Sky is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel that follows the life of half Mishnese, half Karupatani crown-Prince, Senya. With strange silvery eyes and behaviour that leaves much to be desired, Senya soon begins to gain the attention of both moons of Rehnor.

Our main protagonists are Senya and (though she is introduced half-way through) a human girl named Katie. Katie’s innocence and trusting nature made her a sharp contrast to Senya’s more rough and tumble attitude, with his show more strong survival skills and knowledge of both the streets and royal life. Both characters were likeable and I found myself hoping they would get to meet sooner than later. Senya changes so much over the course of the novel, going from a silent, unruly street urchin that would sooner stab than speak to you, to a wise and compassionate leader in the making.

The story moved swiftly and was full of emotion. The use of language was good, though there were a few typos (nothing major.) The storyline was dramatic and held my attention at every point, though I feel that a sequel would work to tie up any loose ends.

Quote: ‘The Devil could have given him those weird powers, blind silver eyes, and fangs.’

I loved this book more than words can say, although the people’s initial treatment of Senya was harsh and made me pity him. As indicated in the quote above, many viewed him as a monster, some unholy demon come to plague them. I quickly identified with Senya’s character as I have also experienced what it’s like to be an outcast, struggling to fit in even though you don’t wish to. His mysterious eyes, aloof personality made him ever-more intriguing.

‘Senya’s eyes flashed like a laser and then, so help me, he was gone.’

I do feel that the book could have been partitioned better in order to properly separate different character perspectives from one-another, but overall this was an enjoyable read that I think will bring readers hours of entertainment. I experienced a world like no other I’d read about before and I’m hoping that upon reading this, others will think twice before starting to judge someone.

I rate this book 5 stars. show less