Book Review: Lunarmancer by Jake Bennett
Synopsis
Reika is a changeling, a human girl brought up in a kind community of Metazoans, a sapient
zoomorphic species who migrated from a distant land long ago. She works as a servant at the
King’s citadel.
But all this changes when Reika and her friends Melito and Tabitha—royal guards
at the citadel—are attacked by rebel Metazoans led by the fearsome sorcerer Magnus. Facing
death, Reika’s true nature is revealed by the light of the full moon; a dormant power is
awakened, and Reika’s destiny changes forever.
In order to heal the darkness awoken in Reika’s soul, and to escape the machinations of
powerful foes, she will need allies. Thus begins an epic journey spanning multiple continents
and cultures, through magical and material perils, and even bending the fabric of time itself...
Lunarmancer is the debut YA fantasy-epic by Jake Bennett, a novel that marries the brilliant
ensemble casts of Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy with Tolkien’s luscious world-building.
The Review
Lunarmancer by Jake Bennett is a wild ride of fantasy and sci-fi that’s bursting with imagination. It’s clear from the start that the author knows how to write; the descriptions are rich, and the world feels alive. The mix of ideas—magic, talking animals, advanced technology—shows off some serious creativity, and there’s plenty here to spark the imagination.
That said, this book isn’t for everyone, and it wasn’t quite for me. For starters, I’ve never been a big fan of talking animals or transmorphic characters, and since they’re a big part of the story, it was hard for me to get fully invested. Plus, the blend of magic and modern machines, while unique, sometimes felt a bit chaotic. One moment there’s a spellbinding battle, and the next someone’s pulling out high-tech weaponry. It’s cool, but the shifts can take you out of the moment.
Another issue for me was the pacing. Even though the book is long, it flies through the story like a video game, jumping from one big moment to the next. It’s exciting, sure, but it didn’t give me much time to really connect with the characters. They felt more like pieces moving through the plot than people I could root for or care about.
In the end, I’d give Lunarmancer a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a well-written, creative book that I think many readers will love, especially if you enjoy fast-paced, genre-blending adventures. It just wasn’t my thing. If the idea of magic, tech, and talking animals sounds like your vibe, it’s definitely worth checking out!
