Rhapsody by David Lundgren Review

Title: Rhapsody
Author: David Lundgren
Publisher: David Lundgren
Pages: 430
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Purchase at AMAZON

In RHAPSODY, the Forest has been completely healed and the battles of Books I and II are over, but a corrosive blackness that has been haunting Raf still seems to be growing in strength. They return to Miern to stop a traitor from assuming control of the city, but find themselves caught up in a deadly plot as they race against time to stop a dark and horrific power being unleashed on them all.

Book Excerpt:

On either side of the creaking wagon, scattered trees glittered as a light breeze rippled through the leaves. The morning sun had finally burned away the tenacious clouds, and with the Ancients now left far behind them, the azure sky had emerged everywhere above the travelers – which served only to highlight the iridescent colors of the ‘new’ Forest. Signs of fresh growth were abundant; every tree, bush, flower, shrub and bramble practically glowed with life.

Raf looked over at Zinny. The young boy was giggling silently at the jabbering of a troop of monkeys cavorting in the nearby branches. Next to him, his father lay slouched asleep against the wooden siding, his head bobbing up and down with the rhythm of the wagon. The Gerent had been apprehensive about returning to Miern. Scared, even. But as the ruler of the city, he was really the only one who could wrest power from Pavor. And as for bringing his young son along, it hadn’t been a question; the Gerent had refused to let Zinny out of his sight since they’d been re-united six days ago.

Only six days ago…? Raf shook his head. Six days ago the Forest had been dying. And it was only six days ago that Pavor had arrived. He’d been defeated and run off with his tail between his legs – but not before he’d sent Henja back to try to murder the Gerent. The thought sent a shudder through Raf’s body. Which only intensified when he remembered the stupid nightmare he’d had last night. He could still feel echoes of the sheer panic and terror of the colors, how they’d fled from the inky blackness which had seemed to melt them.

He grimaced. Melting colors? What was that all about? Somehow, he knew it was all linked to Pavor. And because of that, here they were, already leaving the Forest having only just returned. At least there were few good things to remember as well. He’d fixed the Forest, after all. Healed it using the sustina; stopped it from collapsing at the last second and managed to save everybody. Most of them, anyway. But, as the wagon lumbered slowly over the bumpy ground on the beginning of their long journey back to Miern, it was something positive to focus on. Well, that and kissing Sylvia, obviously. Although, that led to remembering how he’d discovered that Henja was her dad, which was not such a happy thought…

Six days ago? It seemed more like a thousand years ago.

 About the Author

David Lundgren was born in “a pokey town in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia)” and spent the first 18 years of his life there. He grew up in an environment “that seemed to combine the best elements of both an American and English heritage with a hybrid African lifestyle.” Lundgren is also a musician, which gave him the creative spark to create the Melforger series. He spends his time in San Francisco “teaching, enjoying frequent – and often frustrating – games of tennis, trying to learn the blues on piano, attacking Sudoku puzzles with relish, and attempting to make some headway with the ever-increasing pile of books that is waiting patiently at my bedside, developing its own gravity.”

His latest book is the fantasy/science fiction, Rhapsody.

My Review:

This was an interesting book for me. I love music, and I really enjoyed how the author used his musical background in this book. The title itself reflects music. The characters were common for quest novels, bad versus good etc. However this book was set in a world that I could escape to. The story line was interesting and easy to follow. I feel like I should read book 1 and 2 in order to figure some things out. However the writer does a good job of bringing the characters full circle. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.