Book Review: Lor Mandela: Destruction from Twins

So first of all, I am SO sorry for the lateness of this post! I sincerely apologize to Lisa for my tardiness. I received this book a LONG time ago. But then, I started having complications with my pregnancy, then my new daughter was in the NICU, and then it was the holidays. (I'm pretty full of excuses today, huh?) Anyway, my daughter and I are just fine now and so I am getting back to blogging and catching up on my reviews.

Title: Lor Mandela - Destruction from Twins

Author: L. Carroll

Date Released: February 2010

Publisher: Realtime Publishing
Series: Lor Mandela Trilogy, Book #1

Received from author for review

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:
Part I (Destruction From Twins)
When a selfish enchantress seeks to steal mystical powers from her twin sister, she sentences the world of Lor Mandela and its inhabitants to death. In an effort to preserve itself, the soul of the planet appoints a Child of Balance named Audril Borloc who must solve a prophetic riddle known as the Advantiere. All hope seems lost, however, when shortly after her fourth birthday, Audril disappears without a trace.

Desperate to save their world, Lor Mandelan spies travel to Earth in search of the little girl with black hair and bright blue eyes-traits that on Lor Mandela are exclusive to the ruling family, Borloc. Instead, they find seventeen-year-old Maggie. While the age difference between the girls is obvious, Maggie has the Borloc traits-evidence enough for the eager spies. They devise a plan to get Maggie to Lor Mandela, but will their scheme be successful? And what if they have the wrong girl? Who will save Lor Mandela then?

 Part II (And So It Must End)
Maggie Baker has always wished for a more eventful life. Unfortunately, she is about to get it. Following an earthquake that no one seems to have felt but her, her mundane existence is thrown into a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns as she suddenly finds herself bouncing back and forth between her hometown of Glenhill, Iowa and the distant world of Lor Mandela. On this strange planet, Maggie must learn who to trust, and who to fear. More importantly, she must find a way to convince the Lor Mandelans that she is not the Child of Balance, and her family and friends in Iowa (and herself for that matter) that she is not going insane.

Amid fighting a two-headed creature, being captured by a lawless band of Shadow Dwellers, and falling head-over-heels for the enchanting son of an evil warlord, Maggie sees the lines of the Advantiere unfold around her. It isn't long before she discovers that her blasé reality could be the real fantasy, and that the fate of an entire world may actually depend on her.

Review:

So first of all, I just have to say, I LOVE the cover of this book! I am a huge fan of cover art (and yes, I admit, I do pick books based on their covers!) But I would definitely be interested in this book just by seeing the cover. And it gives you a feel for what to expect in the book.

Lor Mandela is definitely one of the most unique books I have ever read. It is an epic fantasy tale mixed with a contemporary YA read. It almost feels like two separate books mashed together. Each half of the book takes place in a different world--one on Lor Mandela and one on Earth. And then in closing chapters of book, the two worlds collide.

The book starts off on Lor Mandela, a fantasy world full of magic. It begins with a power struggle over who will become the next Vritesse (the matriarchial leader of the Trysta people). Scandal and intrigue abound as the leadership passes from generation to generation, culminating in a death sentence for the entire planet. Thus begins the search for Audril, the only one who can save their planet. As the search moves to Earth, the teenage heroine is introduced. Maggie is a typical 16 year old, bored with life in a small town. Little does she know what awaits her as she begins catching glimpses of this alternate universe. Everything comes to a grand climax as Maggie, along with her dad and best friend, are transported to Lor Mandela and swept into a raging battle.

At the beginning of this book, I was overwhelmed by the amount of description and details of Lor Mandela's society and characters. However, I quickly became intrigued with all the drama surrounding its leadership. I especially liked how powerful the female characters were in their respective positions. I could also relate closely to Maggie, being from a small town myself. She is a very believable character that makes the story grounded, despite its high fantasy elements.

Lor Mandela is a captivating, epic read that definitely leaves you wanting more. And don't just take my word for it. Check out all the amazing reviews it got on Goodreads! It has a 4 1/2 star rating!

I am excited to read the sequel, Four Hundred Days, that is now available to buy (And another phenomenal cover, might I add!)

Book 1: Destruction from Twins, is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CreateSpace, and Smashwords.

Book 2: Four Hundred Days is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CreateSpace, and Smashwords.


 

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