Title: The Land of a Thousand Bridges
Author: Nana Aberdeen
Publisher: PartridgeSingapore
ISBN: 978-1543767087
Genre: Literature & Fiction / Fantasy
Pages: 712
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
As recent events in our world’s history have shown us, the nature of change has always been something people have a hard time accepting. Whether it is the pain of loss which comes with a parent’s passing, or a pivotal piece of technology changing an industry or nation so profoundly there is no going back, change can come from any and all directions in our life. The harsh reality of life is that change is inevitable, and the only way forward in life is to accept the changes which cannot be undone, and learn to move on with our lives.
In author Nana Aberdeen’s The Land of a Thousand Bridges, the author explores the nature of change through a mythological and fantasy-driven narrative set in a Mystical Asia. The story follows the Nation of Asyea-Rei, which suffered a deadly and devastating civil war that nearly destroyed the nation many years earlier. Despite the present rulers’ desire to keep this history hidden from their people – to hide the ugly truths of that era, the mystic elders hide the hidden history of this time period throughout the country, waiting for the day someone would find the hidden pieces of the story and expose the transgressions of three families of power and authority, whose actions sparked the bloodshed that was to come. A story of mysterious kingdoms, sacred bridges, magic, and surprising creatures, this story showcases the inevitable power of change, and the hidden truths those in power try to keep hidden far too often.
The author did an incredible job of crafting a comprehensive and thought-provoking mythos and narrative which felt vibrant and alive on the pages. The author’s use of imagery and atmosphere to establish this detailed and cultured land made the nation of Asyea-Rei feel richly developed and mesmerizing to read and brought to life wonderfully in my mind’s eye. The layered and gripping narrative highlights the power structures, history, and mythology the author has developed in this fictional and fantasy-driven world, and the infusion of an Asia setting made for a gripping new location which will have readers fully immersed into the narrative.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy the fiction genre, especially those that enjoy fantasy and mythological-based narratives. The narrative felt like a modern-day Epic located in an ancient and mystical world. It is brought to life so eloquently and beautifully that I instantly felt transported to this world. The author’s attention to detail, from a thoughtful use of a glossary of terms used in the narrative, to the multiple perspectives from the past events narrated by a mysterious character in the present, made the story flow smoothly and kept me hanging onto the author’s every word.
Thought-provoking, engaging, and harrowing, author Nana Aberdeen’s The Land of a Thousand Bridges is a must-read Epic Fantasy and mythological novel that cannot be missed. The rich and complex character development and world-building, balance out each other so well, and the harrowing twists and turns as this bloody history is revealed make this one narrative which will kept the readers hanging on until the final pages of this lengthy novel.
