Review of Sandcastles and Rainbows II: (Plain English Version)
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Review of Sandcastles and Rainbows II: (Plain English Version)
"Sandcastles and Rainbows II: (Plain English Version)" by Christopher D. Myers is a story showing the connection between different realms. The Ethereal Universe is a realm consisting of beings of pure consciousness. These beings are also called "Mental Beings." Unfortunately for these beings, they are not capable of experiencing the kind of life beings in the Physical Universe have, which, according to the book, are "the warmth of sunlight, the bite of frigid air, and the ache and joy of feeling." However, Falin and Xin are able to solve the riddle that can take Mental Beings to the Physical Universe and back without losing their identity. But there's a big problem: Some kin have been trapped in the Physical Universe. It is up to Xin and Falin to find them and return them to Zenla. After Karluk's rescue, Xin and Falin are separated by a blackhole pull. Falin finds himself on an unfamiliar planet, where he feels the energies of Mental Beings in human bodies. To continue his quest, he possesses the body of Daniel to enable him to continue his mission. Will Daniel lead him to find his trapped kin, especially Thron?
This is one of the few books that cut across many genres. The sci-fi elements can be felt by the presence of beings from realms different from Earth. We see beings from the Ethereal Realm with abilities to possess humans and enjoy human existence through them. This book can also fit into the young adult genre. A more significant part of the story revolved around the Gen Z folks between the first grade and high school. We see how the author explores the significant role of social media in shaping Gen Z culture. We also see how the interest in vocations shifts from blue-collar jobs to tech-based entrepreneurship. Daniel is a character that exemplifies this shift in career choice among the Gen Z folks. Finally, there's the romance aspect of the book. Although it is not explored in depth, readers can see different love interests spicing up the narrative. Readers are also exposed to the complexities of Gen Z relationships. Through Alice, we see how young people can lose their chance of having a meaningful relationship because of peer pressure. Readers also see the shallowness in how many Gen Z folks approach relationships.
However, there were points when the story became unnecessarily repetitive. The narrative about folks asking each other out and making out became too repetitive and boring. Impatient readers would find those aspects of the book not so exciting, mainly because it took away from its central focus. I kept asking myself how repeatedly narrating about Gen Z characters going through relationship challenges would be relevant to Falin's objective of finding his lost kin.
I applaud the editors for doing an excellent job of ensuring there are no errors in the book. However, because of the unnecessary repetition of a particular narrative, I deduct a star from the rating. Conclusively, I rate the book a 4 out of 5. I recommend the book to people who enjoy stories that blend sci-fi, romance, and young adult genres.
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Sandcastles and Rainbows II: (Plain English Version)
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