Ilona Ciller's Books & Things: July 2020

Book Reviews

Shelly rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Laura rated it⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jacob rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Khai rated it⭐⭐⭐

Allie rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ursula rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Laura's Review

An epic journey of self-discovery in a world full of magic and secrets.

It was an accident, it wasn’t meant to happen, Troy just wanted to find work and a lover. He didn’t know that he could become caught up in a Black Triangle riddled in collateral damage and mystical revelations.

And this is how Troy and his friends get caught up in a desperate race for survival where time is against them and dangers lurk at every corner. They must not only discover the powers within them, but also learn how to use them and protect both themselves and those around them. They have to travel through treacherous places for which no maps have been written, in a world full of magic and secrets. But darkness is close on their heels and keeps spreading and the young sorcerers must race against time to stay ahead.

Triangles of Black is an epic tale of intrigue and espionage, abuse of power and injustice, with a deep plot and wonderfully fleshed out characters. And KUDOS to the author for the originality of the magical protectors. They are the best part of this book!

Complex characters, awesome and at times unbelievably intense and vivid magic, a beautifully layered plot and downright fabulous magic beings - this book has all the ingredients of a first class fantasy read.

My only complaint was the pacing. It felt a bit too slow at times and rushed at others.
Full of adventure and humor, even laugh out moments, this is one of those tales that masterfully utilizes fantasy to present the real-life problems of society in general.

If you love fantasy adventure and fabulous magic, Triangles of Black is the perfect choice.

Ursula's Review

Sometimes you finish a book - just lost for words, gasping at where it left you... confronted, hoping, wondering, even wishing. One of these is Triangles of Black: Once in a Thousand Years, an epic adventure of how Troy, his sister Sophie and her indigenous friend Tracy, become involved in the black triangles.

What happens when people with power crush people with knowledge and wisdom? Injustice, conspiracy, opposition, defence… for those who survive. The three must find solutions to problems and learn that they are the key to a lost lock (metaphorically speaking).

Living in Australia, the characters have a down-town feel. The odd family get-togethers, parties, nuisance cousins, back streets, workplaces, bushlands and friends (known and estranged) and the thugs that lurk nearby (sponging up profits or spawning evil) make this read entertainment tonight(and probably not tomorrow cause I would have read the book by then).

Having an indigenous heroin Tracy is also totally awesome. I love her spirituality, intelligence and strong will. Her and Sophie can’t believe it when Jason (Tracy’s half brother) starts dating Katie, because everyone thinks she’s the biggest tart… and she works for her dad’s bank with the triangle logo…

The friendly couple, Jerry and Jennie, are farmers that Troy works for. Jerry is also an inventor of a revolutionary generator that has caught the attention of – no, not Souron’s eye – but close enough, the eye of corporate giant John (Katie’s dad), the power station owner and bank manager who leaves a path of destruction in his wake with the help of his evil twin brother (another bigwig who works at ASIO). Let’s just say those humble farmers surprised me big time, and I just love that old beaten-up truck of Jerry’s! Go you good thing ☺

Then there is the spunky gentle Lala who Troy meets on a charity run. Independent and fearless, she’s a book you can’t judge by the cover. And the Scottish fisherman Finn – I’d love to sit down to a cup of tea with him on deck and listen to some of his salty yarns. Morphous Island hosts a popular holiday resort and also a no-go zone - a zone akin to the infamous Bermuda Triangle… This book takes me many exciting and interesting places but the place I hate the most is ‘The Vault’ a dark and cruel ex-jail compound that was rumoured to be haunted…

The plot is deep and the characters as complex as life itself. This book sucked me into its magic whirlpool. It reveals so much yet is shrouded in mystery. And lets talk about the magic… The artefacts are exquisite, and how Troy, Sophie and Tracy discover the magic is awesome. The misunderstandings this initially creates and the desperate times when magic becomes real – so intense, I wish I could tell you about those vivid scenes but it would be a real spoiler… but I can say the suspense at times is a killer.

The three magical guardians are super cool and one of the many highlights. Zenith the armoured knight and his grey charger rock. He’s a distant somewhat rude character while Shiven the dragon and Welder the chriptoqas – a splendid black unicorn mare with bat wings, fire mane and tail (it’s no spoiler - they appear on the first page) are a more amiable team. Each of these have attributes designed to fulfil their specific duties. Without these ancients the trio are on their own, but the guardians senses are sharper then the mortals…

This is fantasy with non-fiction themes, a potent reality woven into the fabric of this world. I really can’t do this book enough justice, suffice to say… TOTALLY LOVED IT!!!

See more Reviews at Goodreads!

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Sunday, July 12, 2020

Magical Realism meets Epic Fantasy!

Magical Realism meets Epic Fantasy!

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