A Fantasy Concerned With Reality -- Review of Jacob Madkiff's "Chimera"

NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS

Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books

Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com

May 20, 2013

A Fantasy Concerned With Reality

A Review of

 

Jacob Madkiff Chimera, Volume I of The Chimera Chronicles (Create Space, 2012)

$10.99 334 pp ISBN-10: 1470084767 ISBN-13: 978-1470084769

 

Reviewer: Forrest W. Schultz

 

     Like many recently written fantasies, this one is concerned with telling us what vampires are really like, what werewolves are really like, what witches are really like, etc. This expose' is unfolded from the point of view of the narrator and protagonist, Kyle Evans, who gradually learns ever more about this arcane realm, mainly through a series of battles culminating in a super-battle against his nemesis, Myrdden, the murderer of his woman, Valentine.

 

     But Valentine still lives (somewhere) and from time to time magically appears to Kyle to comfort him --- and to berate him for falling in love with Alexia, who is assisting him in his quest to find and slay Myrdden. A rather interesting love triangle -- this!

 

     The meaning of "Chimera" is revealed near the end of the tale and in the appended short story by the author. With this novel Jacob Madkiff has joined the fantasy writing surge now sweeping across the Southside counties, especially in Coweta, where he lives. He has completed the writing of Volume II, which will be published this summer. The story, the characters, and the fantasy conceptions are well developed and make for an interesting read -- we look forward to more of the same in his next book.

     Madkiff has joined the Coweta Writers Group and is planning other involvements in the Southside scene. Information is available at http://jacobmadkiff.wordpress.com