THE CYCLE OF EDEN

In Varona’s fantasy novel, an unrelenting war between Light and Dark finds two brothers on opposing sides of the conflict.

Seth Varkees is the Chosen One prophesied to lead Light to victory in the fantastical, war-riven realm of Eden. But a confrontation with his brother, Cain Varkees, the Heir of Darkness, renders Seth comatose for some time. When he awakens, Eden has split into two continents, Light and Dark. Otherwise, things seem surprisingly positive; survivors and former enemies have banded together and built a stronghold and are now living peacefully. While they train and gather strength, Seth, assuming Cain is likewise fortifying his side, declares that now is the time to strike. He and his comrades, including the warrior Valentina Leanne and Seth’s scene-stealing canine companion Chase, set sail for the Dark Continent, covering vast, precarious, uncharted territory along the way. Seth has a problem he keeps to himself: He repeatedly sees or hears unexplainable signs of his brother, which are wearing him down to the point of physical illness; he may not be prepared for the evil awaiting him and his friends. This second installment in the author’s fantasy series teems with action, with characters engaged in frenzied battles and against various backdrops even as an easygoing tone propels the narrative. Playful descriptions somewhat muffle the occasional violence; in one scene, Valentina “somersault-launche[s]” someone’s jaw into the air—the same person then hits a deck and pops up “like a basketball.” Seth and company run into all sorts of curious things, some more alarming than others, including a skeletal army, scaly “humanoid fiends,” and huge, jellyfish-like “Jettals” with razor-sharp teeth. While this volume accommodates readers with some sense of resolution, there’s plenty more story to tell and undoubtedly more books to follow.

This swiftly paced adventure further bolsters a winsome ongoing fantasy series.