Collecting in a handy trade-sized paperback edition the first "book"(first 22 chapters) of the popular on-line story, this was an enjoyable, often touching, and very imaginative fantasy college/coming of age story. The story is just beginning, but it gets off to a great start and builds well.

Very honestly sporting an "adult themes" label, it nevertheles is very character-driven. It also has a bit of a "young adult" novel feeling - though certain a very mature young adult. Basically, it is perfect for exactly the age group it portrays, and up. IE, starting college students. Anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton will find the themes tame - if your ideas are considerably more prudish, you might be uncomfortable - but it would probably be good for you!

This is the kind of thing I would have loved to read in high school - though I would probably have had to hide it from my parents. The emotions are well-developed, honest, and all the characters are extrememly believable, in spite of the strong fantasy setting (IE, populated by half-ogres, reptile girls and --extremely sexually active -- nymphs and fauns).

Buying a self-published work is always a risk, as there is an EXTREMELY wide range of quality out there. I've bought things from Lulu that were literally unreadable.

This is NOT one of those. This book is honestly of professional writing quality, and only the fact that it's a sexually frank book would make it a hard sell to the publishers of the best audience for it. But if you enjoy reading Harry Potter books (which are putatively for kids) or other supposedly "young adult" book -- including a lot of the best Heinlein novels -- then I am certain you would LOVE this book. Especially if you are even halfway open-minded.

THE SHORT VERSION - Great subject, well-written, intriguing coming-of-age story, set in a well-conceived modern fantasy world.

Going away to school can be scary, even if that school doesn't require you to carry a magically enchanted weapon for personal defense.



Mackenzie Blaize is a freshman at Magesterius University. This first volume of Alexandra Erin's "Tales" chronicles her first few days. Mackenzie is a troubled young woman who has a hard time relating to people. She faces discrimination on campus and in her dorm. She has trouble standing up for herself and she has a lot of sexual identity issues. She also has a great deal of compassion and empathy that make her an incredibly compelling character.



Newcomers should be aware that this story contains explicit sexual content. They should also note that it is a story in progress. This volume introduces us to Mackenzie's world and sets up some of the initial conflicts, but not much is resolved. Buying this volume will leave you wanting more. Fortunately, Erin is a prolific writer who will probably not keep us waiting too long.





Review based on original web based version of this story.