This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Pushing Madness is the sixth book in the Lisen of Solsta series by D. Hart St. Martin, an epic fantasy series with a strong appeal to fans of young adult fantasy. The reader is introduced to the imaginary world of Garla and Thristas, which shares similarities to ours. A world on the brink of destruction by war, monumental conflict, and the treaty of the one-day war instituted by Lisen about to be sacrificed to the whims of her own daughter who craves revenge. Lisen’s daughter can’t forgive Lisen for sacrificing her to get the “one-day war” treaty, and now Rinli is out for revenge and her own mother is her target. Only a twelve-year-old girl can save their world, but will she?
This is a well-crafted story and even though it’s part of a series, I never had difficulties getting into the story. It begins with a powerful stream of consciousness, featuring the idle thoughts of Lisen which fill the reader in with information about what happened in the previous installments in the series. D. Hart St. Martin’s prose is beautiful, exciting, and permeated with a magic of its own. I enjoyed the descriptive nature of the prose and the author’s ability to plunge readers into the mental landscapes of the characters. D. Hart St. Martin also demonstrates a gift for character and I enjoyed the place of female characters in her world, the dynamics of conflict, and the awesome pacing.
There's a great setting in a world of equality and magic — even if the magic is not given validity — a world where women rule and men pay homage, where alliances are formed and where peace is threatened on all sides. The plot is cunning and the conflict is well designed to make it move forward. The premise is powerful enough to get the reader’s attention — a daughter bent on revenge against her mother and who will not negotiate — but it is the author’s storytelling craft and handling of conflict that makes it an engrossing read. Pushing Madness is a great read, filled with drama, exquisite world building, and characters that are as compelling as they are real. A great piece of entertainment for fans of epic fantasy!
