Book Review: Cobo's Quest

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Cobo's Quest     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Elizabeth Merz
Class/Genre:   Fantasy
Quiet Storm

Golden eyed Ver dala Ven Cobo loves Jishni, but she married his brother Bail as state obligations compel her to acquiesce to the previously arranged marriage. Cobo and Jishni continue their taboo tryst until she says her vows to Bail. Jishni gives birth to a gold-eyed boy that means Cobo sired the lad as only a golden eyed Betnoni can procreate a golden-eyed child. Although Bail knows the truth, he accepts the infant as his own son. Unable to see his beloved with someone else, Cobo flees to the forbidden Shodalum in spite of his sibling’s noble act and his own duty as this generation’s Ver dala Ven.

In Shodalum, Cobo becomes a farmer and “adopts” a desert native Gella as his “chosen sister”. However, visions creep in his mind that his adult son though raised in a caring household lacked the training that only a Ver dala Ven could provide the next generation magical user. Evil surrounds Taen tainting him. With Gella accompanying him, Cobo reluctantly heads home to help Taen find the proper path and complete his own destiny of uncovering the singing spirit guide the Masing Star.

The second “Last Gate” tale is an exciting action-packed fantasy that moves forward rather quickly yet insures that key cast members are believable and fully developed especially Cobo and Taen. The duality of the complex story line ingeniously converges at key pivotal moments similar to the DNA helix until complete merger occurs as Cobo’s homeland has quite a subplot too. Though reading book one BETNONI’S PROPHECY will expedite understanding motives, COBO’S QUEST is a strong tale that will send fantasy readers not so quietly storming their bookstores for the first novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner