Official Review: The Soldiers Mask: A Novella of the Wind...

[erasmus]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Soldiers Mask: A Novella of the Windshift Wars" by Drew McDowell.]

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The Soldiers Mask by Drew McDowell is a Sci-fi/Dystopian setup for the future Windshift Wars Saga. It begins in the country of Taerna, with the public execution of a family under Araddian’s law. From there, we are introduced to Eric Stephenson, the Magister of Araddian, and ruler of a large part of the current world. Eric used to be a loving husband and doting father, but that part of him faded the longer he ruled. Now, he cannot be in the same room with Michael Stephenson, his own son and our protagonist, without hostilities.

Michael Stephenson, a Sergeant in the White Eagle Forces, has no trouble obeying the Magister’s orders even when he hated his father. However, the increasing number of senseless killings has made him feel guilt when he hasn’t before, and now he’s starting to doubt the validity of his actions, orders or not.

Everything comes to a head when the Magister orders him to interrogate and execute a pregnant school teacher, Sarah Hendrir.

Sarah, sensing Michael’s reluctance to execute her and her baby (born right before orders for her execution), manages to convince him to turn away from everything he’s ever known and to seek refuge with the rebellion group, the Wolves Den.

Michael fled with the baby, bringing with him a message - left by Sarah when she stayed behind so that Michael and her child could have a higher chance of making it out alive - he didn’t understand. When he makes it to the Wolves Den, he reunites the child with her father. Of course, he is still distrusted by them and practically a prisoner. Nonetheless, Michael’s determination to achieve redemption manages to earn him some desperately-needed trust. And thus begins his first step towards atonement.

In this prequel to the Windshift Wars Saga, the author has the talent to give the reader pieces of setups that make no sense whatsoever, but are interesting enough to leave me wanting to find out more. For example, Araddian seems to be a mysterious entity that grants the Magister his powers and acts as a shadow ruler. I have no clue as to who or what he is, but he seems to be the main antagonist in the saga to come.

However, I would have give this novella a 2 out of 4 stars, as it tried to accomplish too much in a very limited number of pages, which resulted in an uneven development between the world-building, characterization, and plot. Essentially, there were too little descriptions of the Dystopia we find ourselves in; as a result, I couldn’t see, in my mind’s eye, the image of the world the rebellion is desperately trying to change. If the author would balance the three, and employ the consistent use of apostrophe, I’m pretty sure this would turn out to be a really awesome prequel of an epic series.

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[Skyggenulv]

Thank you for taking the time to review this. Your feedback is exactly what I am looking for and is highly appreciated. I am working on the first core novel to the series now and what you said makes sense and will be used as I move forward.

In light of this review, I will also work to get a revision out for The Soldiers Mask that helps to patch up what you mentioned. But I will also work to strike a balance that does not give away much that will be revealed in the first novel.

Thanks again!
Drew McDowell.

[erasmus]

I'm really glad this helps. I'll be looking out for the revision for The Soldiers Mask and the Windshift Wars Saga!