Review by NetMassimo -- Herai by Aaron D Key

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 08 Nov 2019, 07:34

[Following is a volunteer review of "Herai" by Aaron D Key.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Herai by Aaron D Key is a fantasy novel that spans two different realities created by a powerful being. In both realities there's an underground stone city with guards to defend it from intruders from the Outside. In one reality, another being became part of that world influencing its history.

Aaron D Key created a fictional world in two versions with a gloomy underground city at the center of a complex plot. It's an ambitious novel in which an external influence on one reality creates a divergence in its history leading to two histories that become really different. In the novel, the parts set in one reality are labeled as "the better place" while the parts set in the other reality are labeled as "without" to avoid too much confusion in the reader.

Herai is a young adult who suddenly is at the center of important events, in one reality in great danger because of an intrigue. The fact that the city's leader Glant is Herai's father makes the situation more complicated in both realities because Glant is old and his succession to power might be chaotic.

The element of intrigue is at the center of the plots, but interpersonal relationships are very important. Power seems balanced by love, which can be expressed in different ways: romantic love, love between relatives, and love between friends. Homosexuality is included, but there are only hints of sex.

Power and love have a great influence on the characters in both realities, but the presence of one person in one of those realities makes a lot of difference. You need to pay great attention to details because a piece of information about a character referred to one of the realities can be important in the other reality as well.

I appreciated the author's ambition in creating two divergent realities that keep on being subtly interconnected. However, I have to say that the resulting plots can be quite convoluted. There was a point when I thought that a bit less intrigue and a bit more character development would have made the novel better. Don't get me wrong, for each protagonist there's a journey, an inner one and in some cases a literal one. However, sometimes I felt that only some parts of their personalities were developed. In some occasions the author seemed to me too focused on the mystery and the plot twists with the result that parts of the characters' personalities were hidden.

Overall, my impression is it's a good, but some little flaws make it short of amazing, including occasional editing problems. Consequently, my rating is 3 out of 4 stars. If you like complex stories with mystery, intrigue, and many twists, you'll probably like it.

******
Herai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 08 Jun 2025, 09:32

NetMassimo wrote: ↑08 Nov 2019, 07:34 [Following is a volunteer review of "Herai" by Aaron D Key.]

3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review

Herai by Aaron D Key is a fantasy novel that spans two different realities created by a powerful being. In both realities there's an underground stone city with guards to defend it from intruders from the Outside. In one reality, another being became part of that world influencing its history.

Aaron D Key created a fictional world in two versions with a gloomy underground city at the center of a complex plot. It's an ambitious novel in which an external influence on one reality creates a divergence in its history leading to two histories that become really different. In the novel, the parts set in one reality are labeled as "the better place" while the parts set in the other reality are labeled as "without" to avoid too much confusion in the reader.

Herai is a young adult who suddenly is at the center of important events, in one reality in great danger because of an intrigue. The fact that the city's leader Glant is Herai's father makes the situation more complicated in both realities because Glant is old and his succession to power might be chaotic.

The element of intrigue is at the center of the plots, but interpersonal relationships are very important. Power seems balanced by love, which can be expressed in different ways: romantic love, love between relatives, and love between friends. Homosexuality is included, but there are only hints of sex.

Power and love have a great influence on the characters in both realities, but the presence of one person in one of those realities makes a lot of difference. You need to pay great attention to details because a piece of information about a character referred to one of the realities can be important in the other reality as well.

I appreciated the author's ambition in creating two divergent realities that keep on being subtly interconnected. However, I have to say that the resulting plots can be quite convoluted. There was a point when I thought that a bit less intrigue and a bit more character development would have made the novel better. Don't get me wrong, for each protagonist there's a journey, an inner one and in some cases a literal one. However, sometimes I felt that only some parts of their personalities were developed. In some occasions the author seemed to me too focused on the mystery and the plot twists with the result that parts of the characters' personalities were hidden.

Overall, my impression is it's a good, but some little flaws make it short of amazing, including occasional editing problems. Consequently, my rating is 3 out of 4 stars. If you like complex stories with mystery, intrigue, and many twists, you'll probably like it.

******
Herai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Why do the two realities exist? I can see why you thought the plot was convoluted. Even I could feel the vibe just by reading the review. I don't quite get the story from the get-go.