Wonderfully magical

I am so happy with the new book review of Curse of the Tahiéra and The Search for Tzanáta, book 1 and 2 of my ongoing Tahiéra series!

”Beautifully written, deeply immersive, and wondrously magical… A thrilling fantasy adventure.”

”Gillissen spins a fantastical narrative that seamlessly intertwines elements of fantasy with past life theories, dreamwalking, and human drama for an original, engrossing spiritual adventure tale.

The first book in the proposed trilogy takes raiders on an exhilarating journey of a young man to self-discovery and power of dream magic. When Rom, a young man shunned for his Tzanatzi ancestry, crosses paths with Yldich, an Einache Shaman, they embark on a journey which will change their lives and that of their people forever.

The second novel, the sequel to Curse of the Tahiéra, sees Yldich back to the House of the Deer after his seven year-long absence. And though Rom seems content living among the Einache of the high North, things are not as they seem. With eerily familiar ships appearing at the cost and mysterious disappearance of the last Tzanatzi, Rom knows he must brace himself for a dangerous face-off.

Gillissen builds a wonderful fantastical world, where dream magic feels right at home and the struggle for identity and security never ends. The spirituality stays at the heart of this series: Gillissen draws themes and inspiration from dreamwork and past life theories, deftly weaving the threads of dreamwalking into Yldich and Rom’s adventure while evoking the folklore and customs of the Einache and Tzanatzi, the two fictional communities.

In witnessing Rom’s journey to self-realization, readers are sure to find mirrors to their own experiences. The intriguing, unhurried, third-person omniscient narration deftly reveals a tapestry of magic and power of love and forgiveness. Questions of identity, self-discovery, life purpose, soul-life, what it means to be one with your inner self, and how decisions made in the past have far-reaching implications give meaning and depth to the narrative.

The cliff-hanger conclusion resolves the major plot threads while leaving enough questions unanswered, raising readers’ fervour for the final instalment in the trilogy. Along the way, Gillissen deftly explores the value of seeing magic in one’s life as well as the honour of fulfilling one’s duty and responsibility toward others. This is a must-read.”

The Praries Book Review, 2022