Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton Review
Reviewed by Colin Hewitt
‘Seeker’ is the first book I have read by Californian author Arwen Elys Dayton. Arwen says “Sometimes I write for adults, but mostly I write for young adults (and for people who aren’t ready to stop being young adults).” I think this is a perfect description of the readership Seeker is aimed at.
We join the story as three teenagers, Quin Kincaid, Shinobu (Quin’s cousin) and John (Quin’s boyfriend) partake in a final training session which will lead to them becoming Seekers, an elite group with the authority and ability to travel through time and space, fighting to make the world a better place (or so, through myth and legend, two of the three have been led to believe).
Initially set in a remote Scottish estate I thought we were in familiar ‘Highlander’ territory – but when Quin, the female protagonist, starts to use weapons such as whipswords and, together with her companions, tackles the formidable disruptor, this unfair comparison was quickly dispelled, and I realised we were in a different arena entirely.
As the story progresses, the consecutive chapters are narrated from each of the three major character’s point of view, this is a very interesting approach to writing a novel, something which if it wasn’t crafted with due care and attention may have been confusing to the reader – Arwen Elys Dayton masters this approach with ease.
I’m always reluctant to give comparisons to other books, everyone’s reading experience is different; however readers of ‘The Hunger Games’ or ‘Twilight’ series won’t be disappointed with this story.
The worlds aren’t as rich as some of those created in, for example, a Philip Pulman book but this is the author’s second book, and the first in a series which shows great promise for the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this (at over 440 pages) substantial and highly original book. I was captivated by the characters and the worlds they inhabit. I’m looking forward with great expectations to its sequel ‘Traveller’.
In my opinion one sign of a great book is if you continue to think about the characters after the pages have been closed – I’m still thinking about them now. Highly recommended.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
