Island Girl by Aino Lahteva
Can you find yourself when you didn’t know you had lost yourself?
As an opportunist, Istrae yearns to get off her insignificant home island and visit Kerth, the City of Light and Abundance. Her preferred method of travel, however, didn’t include drowning. And she didn’t expect the city to be so dirty. Her memories are as broken as her body. She begins to piece them together with the help of a spirit bound to a statue and an ambitious army captain called Rime she enjoys teasing. While Rime guides Istrae in her new life, it becomes evident the rigid rules of society and the city’s Temple do not welcome those who seek to shake the established rules, which is something Istrae is incapable of resisting.
Will Istrae find out who she is, and what she forgot?
A consistently intriguing story which unfolds little by little like a mystery. Island Girl is the first book in a fresh epic fantasy series Strands of Existence with tones of adventure and a splash of romance. A new world with its own laws, intuitive magic, and religion. The book’s characters are in the new adult age range and up. The book is intended for adults and contains violence and some sexual situations.
Island Girl Review
I was compensated with a small amount for my time and effort in reading the book and writing this review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and are based on my honest personal experience reading the book. Nor did the publisher in any way shape or form ever pressure me to give a positive review.
Island Girl follows the adventures of Istrae, a young lady who yearns to leave her boring island home and discover the bustling City of Light and Abundance, Kerth. But when her quest ends with her almost drowning and the city turns out to be far from the utopia she imagined, her dreams take a dangerous turn. Istrae, suffering from shattered memories and a fractured body, enlists the aid of a spirit confined to a statue and an engaging army captain called Rime to piece together her history.
Istrae encounters challenges from the city’s religious and social standards as she makes her way through her new existence, which throws her tenacity and identity to the test. With its own laws, magic, and religion, Island Girl is a vivid story of self-discovery, intrigue, and adventure set in a vividly conceived world.
I found the protagonist’s character growth to be quite captivating. It was quite satisfying to watch her change from a meeker and self-blaming person at the beginning of the story to someone who progressively discovers her own strength. I tend to favor stronger protagonists, so Istrae’s portrayal gave me a new insight into how even seemingly weaker individuals may have a great deal of depth and resilience. Her psychological issues appeared real and realistic, resulting from the poisonous influences in her environment rather than from a wish to be a victim. Because of her genuineness, the reader can relate her character’s development with great satisfaction throughout the entire novel.
It is genuinely a terrific fantasy tale that does a fantastic job of portraying the classic cliche of a character who feels trapped by reality and finds freedom in a magical world. It reminded me of the fantasy genre’s unmatched power to take readers to distant settings and spark their imaginations, which rekindled my love for it. Against the backdrop of my recent science fiction immersion, Island Girl revived my appreciation for the special kind of escape that fantasy can offer. While other genres have their virtues as well, fantasy has a certain appeal that appeals to me more deeply and provides an unmatched sense of wonder and release.
The plot is already quite captivating and has a solid narrative that will appeal to fantasy fans of all types. What really stands out, though, is how well it compliments Istrae’s own growth and development journey. Even though the story is amusing in and of itself, it goes beyond simple entertainment by deftly incorporating into Istrae’s development and enhancing the larger thematic investigation of self-discovery and liberation from life’s limitations.
The plot and character development work together harmoniously to deepen the narrative and entice readers to look past the obvious and gain an insightful understanding of what it is to be human. Essentially, Island Girl delivers a meaningful meditation on the complexity of personal evolution and the struggle for freedom, while simultaneously satisfying the fantasy fans’ demands with its epic tale.
My concluding thoughts are that Island Girl can resonate with people who feel constrained by the routine of their daily lives. It speaks to the deep-seated need many of us have for self-discovery, adventure, and a renewed enthusiasm for life. Regardless of your level of interest in fantasy literature or your lack thereof, this book is likely to evoke strong emotions in you. For those who already love fantasy, this book would be a reminder of why you may love this genre. For those who don’t, this book might be an introduction to your love for fantasy.
If you liked this review and want to see other book reviews like this one, check out my book reviews collection!
