AURALIA'S COLORS: Book Review

I have been hearing rumblings about this book for a while now. I actually received it for my birthday last year, but there are always more books on my list of books to read than I seem to have time for, so I didn't get around to it until THIS year!

Auralia is a young girl who was found in a giant footprint by two Gatherers in the realm of Abascar. The Gatherers live outside the walls of House Abascar, separated by either their crimes or deformities or whatever thing has made them an outcast. But Auralia brings a bit of life and color to their monotonous lives. Nobody knows who she is or where she came from. But as she grows up, Auralia demonstrates strange abilities. She can find colors in the most ordinary places, and does her best to create beautiful gifts for her friends.

Inside house Abascar, tensions are high. The grieving king continues to uphold his missing wife's proclamation that anything beautiful or colorful should be kept locked away in the treasury beneath the castle. Though the people within the house and outside its walls dream of a day when their colors are returned, some are beginning to think it may never happen.

I can see why people like this story. The author drops you into the middle of a fully-formed world, and does not explain its workings so much as he allows the world to unfold throughout the story. The story is, for the most part, quite family-friendly - although there is one scene in the middle that I felt was unnecessary. There is nothing explicit, but it is strongly implied that adultery has occurred.

The back of the book promises adrenaline-rush action and unpredictable characters. I don't really feel like it delivered on either promise. There really wasn't much action at all - and when there was we either saw it from the perspective of someone hiding or we saw the effects of it after the fact. The characters for the most part acted within the confines of their personalities, and I don't believe any of them really surprised me. There were a few PLOT twists at the end of the story, one in particular which might entice me to make the effort to get my hands on the next book - but only if I can find it at a library.

For myself, the book just never really pulled me in. It took over a hundred pages for me to really start to get into the story, and even by the end I felt that I had not made much of a connection with any of the characters. It was only in the last few pages or so that I started getting more interested in what was happening, but by then, the story was over. Maybe it's just the writing style that wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not sure, exactly, why I didn't fall in love with it, I just didn't.

Do I recommend it? Sure. I didn't hate it, and like I said, I can see why other people have raved about it. The story is definitely something unique and original. It had all the trappings of a great story - I just couldn't quite bring myself to love it, and honestly, I can't really put my finger on why.

I'd give it 3 out of 5 dragon-eggs (that's my new reviewing thing, dragon-eggs instead of stars, it feels more in keeping with this blog and my reviews than boring old stars...)