Review by Monkeyhammer81 -- First Lessons by Lina J. Potter

[Monkeyhammer81]

[Following is a volunteer review of "First Lessons" by Lina J. Potter.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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First Lessons, by Lina J. Potter

Aliya is in her fifth year of medical school, and absolutely crushing it. She has a wonderful track record, the doctors love her skills and her tenacity, and she has no concerns about landing a position at the military base where her father is posted. Her parents love her and are very proud of her. Her fiancé, Alex, is a handsome police officer with whom Aliya is planning on spending the rest of her life.

Cue: tragedy. A serious car accident changes things drastically for Aliya. She wakes to find herself the Countess of a Medieval Earldom, and her list of challenges has just begun.

Lina J. Potter’s First Lessons is a mild fantasy tale that could either be classified as time-travel or alternate universe, depending on your interpretation. The author does not explicitly state one way or the other. The book would fit nicely on a bookshelf alongside A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court or The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, but without fully relying on the storytelling techniques or character development of either Twain or Donaldson. Readers who are on their first foray into this type of fantasy will appreciate the attention to detail regarding history. Potter’s descriptive prose makes it easy to determine what the characters are seeing and doing in modern terms, but without detracting from the vibe of the story.

Let’s get the negative things out of the way first. There are some editing issues, including some name inconsistencies and grammar errors. The worst editing decision to me was the choice to use footnotes to point things out in the story. Sometimes those notes explain terminology; sometimes they fill in a plot point that the author felt needed more explanation. They are completely unnecessary and take the reader out of the story.

On the positive side, First Lessons is filled with complex characters, detailed court intrigue and a comprehensive royal hierarchy that places the reader firmly into the world that Potter created. Her world is similar enough to medieval Europe to be easy to grasp for novice fantasy readers, but is disconnected enough to keep the attention of those who are used to immersive worlds.

There are multiple storylines that occur simultaneously. All of them are engaging and keep the reader hungry for the next bit of each story. Switching between the character viewpoints is sometimes not well defined and can seem jarring or confusing when it happens. The character personalities, however, are rich and varied, drawing in the reader like a good prime-time drama.

Overall, First Lessons is a beautiful bridge between true world-building fantasy and historical fiction. This book is perfect for readers who are tentative about fantasy novels, but want to try. I would also recommend it for seasoned fantasy readers who are looking for an easy read that doesn’t feel like a waste of time. I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. It has excellent readability and left me with a desire to read the next book in the series, but could have used a more thorough hand when it came to editing.

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First Lessons
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