Feature Friday - The Madness Project by J. Leigh Bralick

I just loved this book. I picked it up because I loved the The Lost Road Chronicles by the same author. It only took me a year (exactly) to start reading it after I bought it...because, you know, life. And also because I have to be in the right mood to read, or in the mood to read the right genre. If I'm feeling adventurous, romance isn't going to cut it, and if all I want is a mind-numbing read, fantasy definitely won't do-I enjoy it too much! But there I was, thinking, 'I should read something,' and remembering that I had TMP, and that was all I needed to get started.

I feel like I ought to hand it to Bralick for writing a book that required more than one day to read. It's probably one of the longer books that I've read recently (for pleasure, novels for college not included). Even with its length, the story flew by and I am left wanting the next book in the series.

This cover is a recent update, and I think it is beautiful! And very fitting.

The blurb on Amazon(click to read), which, I have to say, sums it up pretty well. :) 

This fantasy steampunk world is filled with politics and magic.

Prince Tarik has, since the age of 5, been hiding the secret of being a mage. Now that he is 17, his father, King Trabin, has asked him to utilize the magery Trabin despises so much. Tarik has no idea what he's getting into, and finds out that not everything is as it seems.

Hayli is a young mage, struggling with her feeling like she doesn't belong anywhere and learning how to control her shape-shifting ability.

Tarik and Hayli have several run-ins before Tarik is given his mission, and little do they know how large her role will be in its execution.

This story touches on topics of identity, race, and peer family, for sure, as well as disparity between the poor and the rich. It is written in first-person, alternating between Tarik and Hayli, which makes for an interesting read (and also forces you to read the chapter header to know who "I" is). Each of the characters were unique and distinguishable from the others.

So, a break-down:

Pros:

• Good pacing with a great storyline that kept me wanting to read on
• Believable/unique characters
• Interesting setting (I don't think I've read anything steampunk before...)
• Magic system explained enough to make sense but remain magical, and there is definitely more to learn in the upcoming books
• Depth of thought put into Tarik's magic, especially, to be able to accomplish his mission
• Cavnish slang
• Touches on topics related to issues in today's world such as race, poverty, and politics
• There is a line shared between Zagger and Hayli which (to me) was fairly powerful
• Slow-burn romance
• Adventurous and emotional

Faux-cons:

• I want to know the rest of the story, but the other three book aren't out yet

Cons:

• I don't have any complaints about this book

So, there you have it, I would definitely recommend checking out this book if you are looking for an adventure you won't soon forget!

Julia

*still working on my reviewing skills*