Title: Through Deception: Izoah’s Legacy, Book 1
Author: Elvis Ali Bautista
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-7960-2356-5
Genre: Fiction/Adventure
Pages: 119
Reviewed by: Allison Walker

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Isaac has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Not only must he lead his band of rebels against an army of intruders, he suddenly finds himself caught in the greedy games of Greek gods, and destined to fulfill a prophecy he knows nothing about. Izoah is the immortal being who possesses Isaac, and one who is equally feared and hated by the gods. Through Deception is the first novel of Izoah’s Legacy, by author Elvis Ali Bautista, and the novel sets the tone for a thrilling and suspenseful series.

Isaac is the leader of a band of rebels intent on defending their lives and their homeland. Once a prosperous and honorable kingdom called Revalon, the land has been overthrown by a power-hungry dictator with supernatural fighting prowess. Now, the exiled residents of Revalon hide and fight in scattered villages they call Sanctuary. Isaac knows many victories leading his people against the intruders, but when Greek gods appear on the battlefield, Sanctuary crosses paths with both immortal allies and frighteningly powerful foes. Through Deception knows never a dull moment as Isaac and his friends fight to understand the gods’ games, and struggle against a prophecy they are destined to fulfill but understand little about.

Much like the Greek legends it borrows its characters from, Through Deception: Izoah’s Legacy is a story with both horrific consequences and extravagant reward. The characters are complex, sometimes working for the greater good, but sometimes seeming to help evil prevail. Above all, the characters are unique and believable, they are often playful, and a welcome comedic relief from the monsters surrounding them. Some of the characters are easy to figure out. Hades is self-serving and unlikeable, Menoetius is completely and indisputably evil. But many of the characters are not who they seem. Isaac himself is a vessel for a being called Izoah, a being with terrible power and an even more terrible reputation. Yet Isaac is unwaveringly loyal to his friends, and even the powerful being inside him might have virtuous intentions.

As an author, Bautista plays his readers like well-tuned violins. He builds suspense and mystery, sending characters in every which direction, then bringing them back together until all the pieces fit tighter than a jigsaw puzzle. Even the gods’ roles and motives, so scattered and mismatched at first, come together in the end. Like a master virtuoso, or a good writer, Bautista has a natural instinct for winding his readers up, then bringing his story to a smooth, satisfying conclusion; which is not to say the novel ends conclusively. In true style, Bautista ends his novel on a cliffhanger, much to the both painful and wonderful exasperation of all readers.

Through Deception: Izoah’s Legacy is fast-paced and exciting, keeping readers with their fingers twitching at the edge of the next page. Like the lore it builds upon, Through Deception: Izoah’s Legacy is filled with gruesome loss and unimaginable power. Its characters are complex, none truly evil nor thoroughly good. It’s an impressive start to the “Izoah’s Legacy” series, one that leaves readers with tantalizing expectations for future books.