Title: Karma
Author: Tristen Herrera
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-1643613253
Pages: 504
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

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Neil Armstrong once said, “Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.” In author Tristen Herrera’s novel Karma, a mystery unfolds around the mysterious young man Karma, and everyone surrounding this young man has their lives changed forever.

In this book, readers are given a rare glimpse into the full-fledged mystery of a single individual, Karma. A young man with a dark past, new teacher Victoria and her daughter Luka find themselves drawn to this young man in more ways than one. Peeling away the layers surrounding this young man, the women and others in Karma’s life begin to discover that he is much more than he appears. A brilliant student, he harbors a darkness within him, as well as a confidence that few people ever possess. As the masks Karma wears begin to fall away, Victoria finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the darkness after him, and when the truth is finally discovered, no one will see it coming.

This was a surprising and fun read. From the first pages, the reader is instantly drawn into the mystery surrounding Karma. From rumors of a violent crime haunting his past to the slow spiral of revelations that showcase who this person truly is, the reader is instantly thrust into this character’s life, which is a rare feat in a novel, where the narrative tends to reign supreme. As for the writing itself, it utilizes imagery very well, bringing an artistic approach to the narrative. There are a few grammatical errors here and there that readers may notice, but they were never enough to draw me out of the story completely.

This is a book for anyone who enjoys mysteries, dark characters whom you don’t know if you can trust or not, and of course character driven narratives overall. As a massive fan of character driven stories, I thoroughly enjoyed getting wrapped up in the mystery of Karma, as well as seeing how he affected the other characters in the novel. While some of the subjects got a bit heavy in certain parts of the book and became emotional, it was the characters themselves that kept the reader invested in the events of the novel, and left readers on the edge of their seat as the tale unfolded.

Overall this was a great read. Filled with shocking revelations, powerful interactions between Karma and the other characters, and a fantastic use of imagery to relay the character’s struggles and interactions, this was a phenomenal novel to read. Each scene played out in the reader’s mind in vivid detail, and the ending will allow readers to develop their own thoughts and ideas on how Karma’s story concludes. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of Karma by Tristen Herrera today.