Leoshine: Princess Oracle

Author: Nicola MacCameron
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Series: Leoshine #1
Pages: 253
Release Date: January 28, 2022
Publisher: Siretona Fiction

How old is Leoshine?

She watched her sisters, servants, and cousins emerge from the Rite of Womanhood, some pregnant and blessed, some relegated to secondary status, all of them scarred and bitter.

"When will it happen to me?"

Cast into a culture she doesn't understand, dressed up and paraded as an example of the "good" the invader believes he brings to her world, to save her people Leoshine must find their "good."

Avram comes to save Leoshine's generated atmosphere and society from collapse. His servant, who was taken from Myxolidia as a child threatens a different collapse for the whole mission by returning to the old ways.

Without Resham, there is no Avram. Without Avram, there is no Leoshine. Without Leoshine, the world ends.

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Reviewer: Rick Norris

Leoshine—Princess Oracle is a story set within colliding cultures and features a mission to save inhabitants living within a chain of disintegrating domes. Starting with what appears to be an invasion, Leoshine's mother hustles her into the wilderness of Myxolidia as her father abdicates his governmental position to invaders. Captured by a lawless tribe originating from her own people, Leoshine is thrown at the feet of the invading Aeolian leader, Avram, to be his bedwarmer. The last thing Avram wants is a girl slave, but he comes to depend on her in fulfilling his mission to rescue the Myxolidian atmosphere from environmental collapse. During her "imprisonment,” Avram’s subordinate, Resham, becomes her friend as he teaches her the invading society’s culture.

If you are looking for a sci-fi novel with immediate action-adventure starting with such things as explosions and evil destroyers, you won’t find it here. This story moves along too slowly for seasoned sci-fi readers.

But I think that readers who are more accustomed to romance and relationship stories might use this book to venture into the sci-fi genre. Leoshine—Princess Oracle is a very good sci-fi novel that creates a unique “other world” complete with a foreign language and culture, yet still will satisfy those readers who want details about relationships and jousting trains of thought. In addition, readers who like culture, pomp, and circumstance would enjoy the book.

It’s good to see a sci-fi story with a strong female character. The author does an excellent job of developing her character and diving into her mind as her world turns upside down, leaving her alone and helpless.

I found that a few names were too similar, which created confusion. Anticipating this possibility, the author created a glossary and a wonderful map. I referred to the glossary several times when reading the book, which obviously slowed my reading progress but allowed me to understand more thoroughly.

Instead of continuing to write in third person during a mental voice, the author switched to first person using italics. This led to an extensive use of italics in the story, which might distract readers.

I love the verbiage used by the author.  My favorite was “The cupboards vomited their contents." Who among us hasn’t experienced this when opening overstuffed kitchen cupboards? I also liked, “His denial slapped her in the face.”

If you are looking for an in-depth, introspective sci-fi novel, Leoshine—Princess Oracle, book 1 is for you.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author through Interviews & Reviews for an unbiased and objective review.

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