Title: Quest of the May’s Rose
Author: Kevin J. O’Brien
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 97-1-5035-6733-7
Pages: 116
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by: Candace L. Barr
Pacific Book Review
Kevin J. O’Brien’s The Quest of the May’s Rose is a fantasy adventure set in another world—one which is inhabited by humans, elves, orcs and other fantasy figures. The protagonist, Elizabeth Rose Silverleaf, is a half-elf whose father had been training her in magic since her mother’s death. Some years later, left in the care of her seafaring uncle upon her father’s death, she accompanies him on a voyage to find a western route to the Far East—a familiar goal to those of us here on Earth. On board, she is tasked with helping navigate and map out the unfamiliar waters and coastlines, as well as using her magic and weapons training in the event of attack. Little does she know, she will be called to do something greater than establishing a new trade route. As with any adventure on the high seas, Elizabeth’s is fraught with danger brought on by the ocean itself as well as people and creatures the crew encounters along the way.
This novel has the makings of a good adventure story; a clear but lofty goal. There is a hardy crew ready to weather storms plus battles and a prophecy which catapults the protagonist to hero status. One thing which stands out throughout the story is the emphasis on the importance of a little-thought-of member of the crew, one whose expertise with recording unknown territory is not only valuable but also potentially dangerous. Indeed, a young woman taking on such a role as well as being a skilled mage and fighter surprises and dismays many people she meets on her travels, but the crew treats her with respect and makes sure others do as well.
On the other hand, errors in the book hold it back from truly shining as a great swashbuckling read. A good round of editing would improve readability and reader immersion. The story can be embellished with more plot markers, such as body language of the characters and thought patterns, enabling the dialogue to be deeper and thought provoking. Though the battle scenes usually cover the major details a reader would want to see, including great finishing blows, at times the action feels hurried.
The Quest of the May’s Rose is a short read; however the violence and some questionable references make it unsuitable for very young readers. Readers who like adventures in the high seas may want to give this novel a try, keeping an open mind to the fantasy aspects of magic.
