Synopsis
Heroes stand! But Nathaniel is no hero… He is an all-around average, thirty-something, failed-to-launch, American do-nothing. However, one small fact rescues Nathaniel from wallowing in his mediocrity…He is a Page-Walker! Nathaniel can escape his humdrum existence by entering the pages of books, living vicariously through their characters’ adventures.
Nathaniel’s comfortable existence is challenged when he discovers his late grandfather’s unfinished manuscript, The Seventeen Towers, whose pages call him for help. But entering an unfinished story has no guarantee of safety, so Nathaniel must choose whether to rise to the occasion and answer the call or let cowardice govern his life.
In his debut novel, Jareth Navratil weaves a light-hearted and whimsical tale while not shying away from the heavy and emotional subject matter. Love and loss, substance abuse and addiction, exploitation and manipulation, and overcoming toxicity take center stage in this portal fantasy page-turner.
Review
The author very kindly offered me a review copy of his debut, and I’m glad he did. We actually swapped books!
Oh boy. What can I say that won’t be a spoiler for this one, while at the same time will be enough to make it a review? This book is anything but what you think it is, whether you read the blurb or not. And it’s simply fantastic. With characters you’ll realize are real and pop off the page. With stakes that have more weight than the words describing them. With more heart and desire for escapism than most.
Nathaniel is a reader. Capable of entering certain stories and actually living out their events. While exhilarating, it can be awfully discombobulating on the reentry to normal life. This is first shown after an explosive chapter in a hit sci-fi novel. Nathaniel makes the mistake of entering while in a bookshop with his girlfriend. A girlfriend he hardly remembers at first. And while portal fantasy isn’t all that new, I found this to be a refreshing and unique take on one with meshed elements of urban fantasy. In that sense, it reminded me of The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham.
When the family is clearing out their late grandfather’s home, Nate comes across his unfinished manuscript and it calls to him. The following trip takes months in real time, as well as probably years off his life due to the stress. Nathaniel must overcome incredible odds to overthrow the one that plagues his grandfather’s tale, with stakes that weigh heavily on those in the outside world.
The author weaves such a brutal and heart-wrenching tale, and yet it is so filled with warmth and courage. The ability to find oneself, as well as prove themselves while they’re at it. The chance to be seen and feel seen. And the chance to rewrite yourself. Isn’t that exactly what escapism is all about? This one needs more readers.
Leave a Reply