Review of Napsha, the Breath of Life

[Catherine Sweet]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Napsha, the Breath of Life" by John Bristol.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Napsha, the Breath of Life by John Bristol is historical fiction and fantasy set in ancient Babylon. This book is the first in the series.

The story starts in 570 BCE near Babylon. Napsha is sixteen years old and lives with his poverty-stricken family in a mud-brick shack. Another character in the book is Seri, a teenage girl whose mother couldn’t look after her and left her with a man she didn’t know when she was seven. When visiting Babylon, Napsha is captivated by Seri when he sees her dancing in front of a crowd. He is determined to meet her and thinks of little else.

When Abbas, Napsha’s father, is in trouble, Napsha does what he can to help his family. To settle his father’s debt, he works for a man called Bashi for three months. Napsha has to sleep in a shed lying on bird seed, without a blanket. He works hard and shows he is skilled at making things. He is full of energy and ambition, but when he performs a kind action, there are grim consequences.

The historical period is skilfully evoked. In Babylon, there is a bustling atmosphere with street entertainers and transient vendors selling their wares. There is a divide between rich and poor and a desperate struggle for the poor to survive. Thieves are treated brutally and have their hands cut off. In contrast to the poverty and brutality, there are the wonders of the Hanging Gardens, with thousands of fragrant flowering plants and water cascading down the mist-filled palace terraces and the breeze creating rainbows.

The writing style is eloquent and enjoyable to read. Descriptive writing brings places and people to life. Napsha is likeable and relatable, although it took a while for him to emerge as a fully developed character. Seri is an engaging character from the beginning, and her traits and quirks make her seem real.

A lovely part of the story is when Napsha spends time with a blind fisherman. The fisherman is a cheerful and generous man. Napsha’s had so many troubles but this is a time of companionship and tranquillity. As the story progresses, Napsha realises that supernatural forces are charting his destiny.

Napsha, the Breath of Life would appeal to those who like stories based on historical times with a protagonist on a challenging journey. I’ve taken one star off for the slow development of Napsha’s character and have awarded this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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Napsha, the Breath of Life
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[Maria Loukaidou]

I love challenging journeys, your review is so good I might read the book with the challenging journey.

[NetMassimo]

A fantasy novel set in ancient Babylon seems exotic and original. Despite your reservations about Napsha's development, I'm curious to see the fantasy element with the supernatural forces at work. Thank you for your great review!