First review of my novel

a bit of shameless self promotion

I hope you forgive me the shameless self promotion, but I was very happy to receive my first review of Phantasia, and wanted to share it. I couldn’t have asked for a better one. Here it is:

I once heard someone describe slipstream as magic realism for Anglo-Saxons. Phantasia is the perfect example of this.

Set in a reality where imagination can be manifested at will by some, and featuring characters such as the seven deadly sins themselves, Phantasia is a story about humanity, love and the power of connection, told by an omniscient and witty narrator, who is not afraid to break the fourth wall now and again.

Laeth is a master storyteller. The style and prose, expertly written as a stream of consciousness, reminds me a bit of Saramago in the way that it blends dialogue and narration without bothering with punctuation. But Laeth puts a lot more heart into this story than Saramago ever did with his.

The author perfectly captures and adapts the Portuguese style of storytelling into English. Not an easy feat, trust me. The result is one of the most immersive books I've ever read, filled with wisdom, humour, and much to think about.

The writing style might not be for everyone, for it does require a certain mindset and familiarity with it. The reader needs to be able to let their eyes follow the words on the page unrestricted by rules and preconceptions about fiction in order to fully experience this beautiful narrative. Definitely worth it.

If you're looking for something truly original and unique, give Phantasia a try.

***

The ebook is free here.

The paperback can be bought here.