Author: Robina Williams

Publisher: Twilight Times Books

ISBN: 1931201544

The following review was contributed by: Jennifer Murray Somerset. Click  HERE   to view more of Jennifer's Reviews

In Robina William’s first novel, we are introduced to Jerome, a brother from a
friary in England at the time of his unfortunate and fatal accident. The rest of
the story revolves around Jerome getting used to his new level of existence and
learning how to move between what he knew and what he knows now, all with the
help of the friary cat, Leo. We also learn the brothers that Jerome left behind
are not completely what they seem. Just because they joined an order and gave
their lives to God does not mean that they still do not respect and acknowledge
the history each of them had previously. Some with more regret than others.

William’s book is a bit mystery, mixed with humor all in a fantasy landscape. I
can’t say I’ve ever read a book before that addresses a possibility of the
afterlife with a religious undertone. What if the afterlife is not roads paved
with gold, angels and our wildest dreams come true but just a continuation, of
sorts, of the life we have been living? Who’s to say that we perceived to be one
way in actuality is something different altogether and we won’t have the clarity
of understanding until we have crossed over to that other existence? These are
just a few of the trains of though William’s book brings to mind as you progress
along with the story. Since it is the first in a continuation series, she does a
nice job of answering some of the questions that come to mind of the reader
while setting up another set, to which I assume, get addressed in the next book
of the series.

For this to be William’s first novel, I found her to have handled the multiple
characters with great care, from the main character to Jerome, to the secondary
characters as well as the ones just briefly touched upon as well. I was able to
get a sense of each of their individual characteristics and personalities and
sense a respect that authors sometimes forget to have for their characters. I
love the touches of humor throughout the book, such a Brother Jerome’s early
attempts at traveling from one level of existence to another and the unlikely
rescuers who help him out of his predicament.

I hope to have the opportunity to read more of the story of Jerome, his order,
and the orange tabby at the friary named Leo, who, like most cats, is a lot more
than what you would initially suspect.