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Mr. Clemens is a nice guy. He signed my free book and spent a moment
talking with me even though I didn't know who he was. Nonetheless, I was
prepared not to like his book. After all, Wit'ch Fire looked like
one of those endless Andre Norton knock-offs that publishers have foisted
on us in recent years. Guess sometimes its hard to tell the wheat from the
chaff. This one didn't blow away. In fact, its pure gold!
Wit'ch Fire is a story within a story. On one layer, its a
text for scholars used to debunk a cult that the government doesn't like.
On another, its a tale of a young girl caught up in forces she doesn't
understand. The government hastens to inform you that the tale is all a
pack of lies and commands you not to believe it. The book works really
well on both levels.
Mr. Clemens' work is both thoughtful and attentive to detail. While
appearing forthright, he's actually quite sneaky. The narrative flows
naturally from one brush with disaster to another. One wonders how long
poor Elena can keep it up. By the end of the book, his characters have
taken on a life of their own. If you aren't careful, they'll take up all
your spare time until the book is over.
Is it some sort of allegory? My English teacher would probably
have thought so. I found it extremely entertaining. Now I'll have to
go out and buy the rest of the books in this series just to find out
how the story ends.
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