3 out of 4 stars
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All aboard who’s coming aboard the airship Redemption. We sail the high winds of Nether in search of excitement and adventure!
Alternatively: Nether. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the airship Redemption.
Can you tell I loved this book?
Redemption by Keith Von Blanckensee starts with James and Sam, two kids dreaming up the ship Redemption and a world for it to explore, Nether. Chapter 1 opens in the very real Nether aboard the very real Redemption. Redemption’s captain is awoken by a lurching of the ship. He goes on deck to learn his wife has been taken by a warship. When pursuit and an attempted attack on the warship leaves Redemption damaged, the captain and his crew must seek aid from the most unlikely sources. Their only clue is a black flag emblazoned with a red scythe. Who took the captains wife, and why?
I literally could not put this book down. I tried. The characters drew me in from the first pages. James and Sam are fantastic kids. In the main story, Redemption’s crew is a joy. They are a family of humans and anthropomorphic animals that just stole my heart. I loved the heck out of them all, both as individuals and as a unit. Barb, the engineer and youngest member of the crew, holds a special place in my heart. She’s a genius who is fiercely protective of her companions. I wanted to hang out in the engine room with her. Similarly, Cook (the ship’s appropriately named cook) has a backstory shrouded in mystery. I want a book about how Cook got to the Redemption.
Nether is one of the most awesome worlds I’ve ever had the pleasure of soaring through. It is a void in shades of blue and purple. Giant chunks of rock drift through the nothingness, presenting hazards for travelers. Lightning flashes at intervals, and the sun, when it rarely appears, is blue. If I had the chance, I would board a ship bound for Nether. It’s too cool to resist.
The story unfolded without a hitch. Like the Redemption, I sailed along, eager to know what happened next. Fair warning, the ending is a bit of a twist. Those opposed to such endings may wish to skip this one, but personally, I didn’t find the twist too twisty at all. Rather, I was amazed at how subtly the author led up to it. The epilogue sets up for a sequel, and I hope that’s a sign of things to come. I want more of the Nether, the Redemption and its crew, and the magical battle potentially looming on the horizon.
There was a smattering of errors throughout the text. Due to this, I must rate Redemption 3 out of 4 stars. These errors are literally the only thing keeping me from awarding this book a full score. I recommend this book for lovers of unique fantasies. Readers who enjoy ensemble casts would also enjoy this read. Even if you aren’t a lover of speculative fiction, this book has so much about friendship and the human condition. It tugged at my heartstrings one moment and had me laughing out loud the next. There are a few incidents of strong language, but they are few. So if that doesn’t bother you, come fly aboard the Redemption for parts unknown and action untold. You won’t regret joining this crew.
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Editor's Note: The typos/errors noted by the reviewer have since been corrected.
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Redemption
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