Mystical Emona: Soul’s Journey by Ronesa Aveela

Mystical Emona: Soul’s Journey Reviews

• 
  Luke Brimblecombe

  For me, the novel Mystical Emona: Soul’s Journey had some clear strengths and weaknesses, but the main strong point was the atmosphere. The setting had a sense of originality and mystique. The imagery was pure and appropriately romanticised. There was a feeling of inevitable emotion and also, a foreboding that very much enhanced the more mundane parts of the narrative.
  
  The text begins with a prologue that details the backstory of the primary conflict. It is explained which characters are the powerful ones and why. The reader is given a fairly clear idea of what to expect – primary character Carina is separated from her lover Dushan, and the story will be about their reunion. It also explains the nature of the villain. In my opinion, the authors ought to have presented this backstory much later in the text, or not at all. Giving everything away immediately had the unfortunate effect of reducing the intrigue that the story was otherwise capable of.
  
  Some parts of the prose were strong. I picked up on a number of technical spelling/grammar errors, but in the author’s defence, they were quick to update the eBook version after I reported them.
  The plot moved quite slowly, there is a lot of filler material, but that didn’t have the effect of heightening some payoff later on. The minor characters are quaint and appreciable.
  
  The main character is Stefan, a man who ultimately is merged with the spirit of Carina’s former lover. It felt like this was a character written by women for women, and as a male reader, I found Stefan to be very passive. Every time he gets into trouble, it’s his lover who is arriving just in time to bail him out. His terrible dreams are beyond his own control. In fact, he doesn’t have a great deal of agency in the story. I wanted him to come up with a fresh idea, or do something to surprise me. It very much felt like he was being led along an inevitable path.
  
  I think I could recommend this book overall to someone who enjoys romance with a fantasy element. It was a clean read, no gratuitous sex or obscene language. The concepts capture the imagination somewhat easily. Also, the setting grants it a great deal of colour and flavour.
  
• 
  Kayla Krantz

  Some people will go to the ends of the Earth to find love.
  
  This book really dives deep into the question “what would you do?” It explores a deadly plan, the death of a spouse, and the stirrings of new love. With both realistic and mythical vibes, this story shows just what lengths some will go to in order to be reunited with those that they love, even if they’ve been lost before.
  
  In the little village island in Bulgaria, the author introduces us to legends of the samodivi which are both fantastic and interesting.
  
  This is definitely a different type of romance book, but one that I recommend just the same!
  
• 
  Pam

  Mystical Emona: Soul’s Journey is by Ronesa Aveela. This is a fantastic book. I simply loved it. It seems to have been set in Greece; but is set in the Balkans. Emona is a mystical place located on the Black Sea. It left a deep impression on the author and she had to use it as the setting of her piece.
  The Legend of the Samodivi is basic to the story. Three young girls were raped and beaten on the youngest’s wedding day. The goddess of destiny, protectress of nature, and the patroness of lovers, Bendis took the young girls into her care and made them goddesses. She gave them a belt with an Edelweiss flower in it. If the belt is stolen or given to someone not in love with them, bad things would happen. If they gave it to their true love, their love would live forever. Carina, the youngest, waits eagerly for her love, Dushan to return. She knows he will return in the guise of someone else; but feels sure her love and his will overcome and Dushan will return to her. Bendis has taken care of Deyan, the warrior who ravaged the town and the girls by turning him and his soldiers into wild horses who protected the girls, now Samodivis. Dushan’s black mare runs with them; but she will recognize Dushan when he returns. Carina has waited since 1197 B.C. for Dushan to return.
  Stefan Tarrant buys a ring for his wife in an antique store. The ring speaks to him. It was a gold ring with a unusual blue stone with a golden crown. He gives it to his wife for Valentine’s Day. After a wonderful dinner and dance, he presents her with the ring and his love. On the way home, the car wrecks and Katherine is killed. Stefan is inconsolable but keeps the ring as a reminder of his love.
  A year later finds him in Emona trying to put his life back together. He buys a house, which unknown to him is owned by an old friend, Nikola Karanov who was in love with Katherine. Nikola hates Stefan for taking Katherine away from him and sets out to destroy him.
  Stefan begins to find his life again as he begins to paint again. He keeps in touch with his daughter Sonia and tells her stories of the samodivi he hears about. He makes up a dreadful dragon and a beautiful maiden who is madly in love with him and Sonia. He meets Kalyna and begins dreaming of her as he waits for her to return. She comes back again and again but he has no way of locating her. Emona begins to entwine him with her mysteries.
  
• 
  Michelle Irwin

  3.5 stars. I'm a huge fan of fantasy and romance, and paranormal romance, so it should have been an absolute win for me. The first thing I noticed is that it's clear that the authors have done a lot of research about the country and it's customs. Unfortunately, there are times where this research is inserted into the story to the detriment of pacing and speed. I think with a great editor to reduce some of the places where this happened, it would have been a tighter and easier read.
  
  What I loved: for the most part the writing was pretty good. The descriptions of the people and places were terrific and I could close my eyes and see this quaint little village. The premise is great. The idea of soul-mates scattered by time and geographic location who have to find each other is one that I love and always makes for an interesting read. The secondary characters were very well drawn. I could imagine going to Maria's hotel and sharing a meal with the locals.
  
  What I didn't love: The prologue. I think having this information up front was too much. The story of the three women, of Dushan and the wedding, is weaved into the dreams of Stephen, in his discoveries about the town and his ring, and into so much of the daily lives of these people I think I would have preferred to discover this story as Stephen discovered it. Some of the motivations of people just didn't make sense and seemed to be there purely as a plot device, which made me lose my suspension of disbelief. E.g. when Stephen gave Nikola his triathlon medal. It just doesn't make sense. Even if I truly believed that I shouldn't have won something like that, I cannot imagine any circumstances where I'd return it to the runner up years down the track. There was also a scene in a restaurant where the waiter greeted Nikola as a regular, and then it's revealed that the last time he went was with Katherine when she confessed to loving Stephen which would have been years earlier. It's a long book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but in this one there were places where nothing much happened and some of the events just didn't lead to any real payoff. Those scenes could have easily been cut without any real loss to the overall story.
  
  Overall, I would say this story would be great for anyone who is interested in learning all of the customs of a different country with a story woven around it.
• 
  J.C. Gatlin

  This is a book written with a lot of passion and a lot of heart. It has a romantic, mystical atmosphere rising from its poetic prose (“Wild, raging seas, like galloping horses” or “The trees whispered their message”). Its imagery is romanticized and colorful which makes for an engaging read.
  
  The plot is romantic, as well. It's a tale of "Love endures all" set in a quaint village by the Black Sea where soul mates find each other after being separated by time and distance. This story should appeal to readers who enjoy romance, fantasy and especially paranormal romance genres.
  
  For me personally, the plot is a little slow moving, especially in the beginning. That’s not necessarily a criticism, as delving into legends, customs and history may be very appealing to some readers. The authors clearly have years of research invested in this book. It felt like some of it interrupted the pacing though.
  
  However, Mystical Emona isn’t about pacing – it isn’t a thriller, though it does have some thrilling moments. It’s about a romantic, mystical atmosphere. This is a story where the location is as much a character as its protagonists. It’s about love and loss and crossing the boundaries of time and space, and I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
  
• 
  Traci Sanders

  Verified purchase
  Mystical Emona - Kindle version
  
  This story had enchanting moments within, and the authors obviously took great care in researching the elements that comprised the legend of 'Emona'; however, I didn't really connect emotionally with the story like I expected to.
  
  The enigmatic nature of 'Emona' was intriguing--resembling a mixture of the hit TV show 'LOST'(which I LOVE) and the romantic undertone of 'The Princess Bride' at times (which I also LOVE). But I felt that the story didn't need ALL of the characters that were introduced. It would have kept my interest longer if there had been a smaller cast to keep up with.
  
  The writing was great and the characters were well-developed, but for me, there was a bit of redundancy in describing the events ... and I became a little confused between when the dreams were occurring compared to real-time moments. The internal dialogue was set apart at times by italics, but not at others, so that was also a bit distracting.
  
  
  I am giving this book four stars because of the strong, descriptive writing and the unique story line, which made it a fairly enjoyable read.
• 
  Rebecca

  Although I’ve never travelled to Emona, I’ve experienced its beauty and wealth of history and magic through my journey that began when Anelia first asked me to assist with this project. In my reasearch of Bulgarian customs, places, religion, rituals, and Thracian history, I’ve learned so much about the those living in the Balkans, that its people and places have become alive for me. Their customs have a mix of the pagan origins and Christian values. Even today, people, especially in remote villages, believe in the samodivi.I hope you enjoy the book as much as Anelia and I enjoyed writing it.
  
  Carina is a samodiva (like the veelas in the Harry Potter series), She lives in a world different from Stefan. Hers is more colorful, more dramatic. Emotions run high and the style of writing reflects this. Stefan lives in the modern world, albeit in a small village that adheres to customs different from his own. When the two meet, the worlds collide.
• 
  Samyann

  At just over 430 pages, Mystical Emona is an incredible journey in many ways, not just story. One aspect that will enchant anyone who purchases this story is poetic prose. There are other reviews to read that will address story and character. My take will be a little different. This is a story of mysticism with passages that are simply awesome and you’ll need to remind yourself that this is actually a novel. Example: Wild, raging seas, like galloping horses, tearing along the rocky shore. Or this one: The trees whispered their message, sending it gliding from limb to limb into the depths of the forest. Mystical Emona is not simply a novel, it’s also a book of poetry to savor.
  Ergo, the story took me much longer than usual to read, in that I had to go back and re-read a passage or sentence, just to enjoy the phrasing.
  
  You’ll take your time with this story, because you want to. Bonus? It won’t be difficult. Terrific descriptions, in addition to an intriguing story. Enjoy!
• 
  Stefany Rattles

  First, I would like to say that this is not the kind of book I would usually read.
  
  That being said, I do however think that is is a magnificent story. Starting with the setting (the author is very descriptive), which is the most enchanting that I have read in a Paranormal book.
  
  Then there's the story which although has a slow start, you can't complain because you get all the backstories and characters which you'll appreciate. It is really impressing how much thought and detail went into this book and there were no major grammatical errors that I noticed. Without giving anything away, you will have all different kinds of emotions while reading Mystical Emona.
  
  All in all, this is a story I would definitely recommend to everyone even if this is not the kind of genre you would usually read. This is not just a romance story with paranormal elements this is story is about soulmates. One that you will enjoy from beginning to end!
• 
  Emma Jaye

  A romantic, flowery read which is as much about the setting and the traditions of the local Bulgarian people as it is a romance. For the right reader, this would be a five star read, but for me it was a little slow and mystical, with dream sequences, which were often ill-defined, nearly as prevalent as actual events.
  The main character, unusually for a m/f romance is the man which I enjoyed. Stefan seems to slide from one near disaster to another, and each time he is saved by his mystical true love in various animal forms. He seems to accept these events quite passively as he does the fact that the object of his affections moves in and out of his life without explanation. He's just pleases to see her when she does reappear, sometimes weeks later.
  I loved the mythological aspect, but for me I'd like the story tightened up by a firm edit, and the main character to be as passionate as the main antagonist.
• 
  Yvonne Crowe

  I have been to the Balkans and this well written book evoked memories of the sweeping mountains and valleys with their own unique history. It was wonderful to come across such an unusual setting for a captivating mystical book. Being a history buff, from the first page this story fascinated me. It is apparent that an enormous amount of research has gone into this novel which makes it outstanding.
  Ronesa Aveela is a very talented writer, with A lovely turn of phrase and an ability to see deep within the souls of her characters, making them believable. The relationships are handled with loving care as the story weaves a tapestry of ancient myths and traditions, mingled with the world of today.
  This book deserves to do very well indeed. I am sure it will. I highly recommend it.
  
• 
  Ronesa Aveela

  "Mystical Emona: Soul's Journey" tells a story of love that survives through the centuries. Or does it? Carina has been waiting 3 thousand years for Duahan to return. Does his soul live in Stefan, the handsome man who has moved to the village where she lived when she was human? Now as a samodiva (a Veela, woodland nymph), can she make him remember his past, their past?
  
  A friend and I did much research on this book. About Thracian history. Bulgarian culture, beliefs, and rituals that still survive today. It is more than a love story. It is a story of a people and their culture. We hope you enjoy it.
• 
  Gina Drayer

  This was an interesting book. Definitely not my normal read, but I was so glad I picked it up.
  
  It was well written and rich with detail. Emona was a unique backdrop for the story. It was just as much a character as Stefan or Carina, and I really got a feel for the area. Bulgaria wouldn't be the first place I would have thought to set a love story, but I found the setting enchanting. It sounds like some place I'd love to visit!
  
  The love story itself was captivating. Not your typical boy meets girl story here. There was a lot of turmoil, and I was left guessing how exactly it would end. (But I wasn't disappointed!)
• 
  Connie Lafortune

  The author captures the true meaning of love in this magical read...
  Mystical Emona: Soul's Journey is an amazing love story about two soul mates searching for one another for thousands of years, after a tragedy befalls them on their wedding night.
  Ms. Aveela has such an amazing gift for writing such an intricate story line that you feel like you are taking the journey right along with them. Whether it be, drinking from the aqua vitae, learning the legend of the samovili or believing in the healing magic of Sultana.
  Come and explore Emona with Stefan and Carina. You'll be glad you did...
  
  Author: Connie Lafortune
  
  
  
  
• 
  Diana Febry

  A wonderful surprise with great universal appeal.
  This book is a mystery within a mystery wrapped in folklore and legend.
  Beautifully written with an even pace the story is one of the strength of love enduring through the ages.
  There are three main time-lines, the present where following tragedy Stefan moves to Emona and becomes enchanted with the village's past while facing danger from an old love rival, the mystery of the disappearance of the previous owner of Stefan's house and the destruction of the ancient village on the morning of a wedding day long ago. The three strands are expertly tied together.
  I was charmed by this story and I highly recommend it.
  
• 
  Laura Libricz

  I enjoyed this book. Its well-written, descriptive, poetic passages are fun to read. It's the story of Stefan, an artist who moves to the village of Emona in Bulgaria after his wife dies in a car crash. He moves into a house that had been occupied by an archaeologist and meets up with an old college friend, Nikola, who helps him get commissioned work as a wood carver. Nikola is harboring an old resentment and soon becomes dangerous. More dangerous even are the samodivi, the forest witches who plague his dreams and inspire his paintings.
  This story is full of Bulgarian legend and is chocked full of literary gems. It's not an easy read but engaging and a treat for literary fiction fans.
  
• 
  Pennie

  A nicely written book of mystifying proportion. It captivates throughout with enchantment and uplifting moments and on the other side, terrifying and heartfelt moments, so there is a lot of ups and downs that play a part. The hypnotizing spell of Emona is sure to please any avid reader as the story unfolds to reveal a nicely bound ending. What's not to love about a novel that has a little of everything, from conflicts and love to tragedy and despair. With very believable and descriptive characters and a well thought out tale, I was glad I read it. Very enjoyable.
• 
  Louise White

  Mystical Emona: Soul's journey by Aveela Ronesa was an inspired read with beautiful prose that brought the story wonderfully to life.
  A tale of love, longing, deceit and jealousy, the mystical elements bleed into the modern day to create something very special.
  I would heartily recommend to all lovers of paranormal romance.
• 
  Michael Wigington

  This is a well written story. Technically speaking, I don't recall any spelling errors or typo's. On the story side it is wonderful as well. The prose flows well, and setting makes me want to go to Emona. To visit that small village and meet the people. The mythology was fantastic, though, I did want more background on it, but that's me. I can't read about mythology and not want to know all there is about it. An enchanting read!
• 
  Dylan Madeley

  I like that this brings us into a more down to earth, every day life fantasy but with excellent writing to give it life. It doesn't always have to be about the fate of the world, eh? I also love that a lot of research went into a fantasy that interacts with slightly different cultural references than most of us are used to.
• 
  Brian O'Hare

  A Story to Touch the Hardest Heart
  
  Set in a timeless village by the Black Sea, Mystical Emona tells a tale of a love that has spanned centuries and seeks realisation once more in this present time. The quaint little town sits easily alongside the legends and myths that have grown with it over the centuries and its inhabitants have no inhibitions in publicly proclaiming their beliefs. New arrival Stephan is initially amused by the odd customs he sees, the tales he hears, but he is soon to be brought into the very heart of a wondrous world that captures his imagination, his heart, his very life. It is a world where fabled animals roam, where moonbeam-clad faeries dance in the glades, where light-winged dryads of the trees sing of summer and joy.
  
  I know little of fantasy. It is not a genre that I would normally read. It is not a landscape that my mind tends to inhabit. But I would guess that the imagination that creates such a fabulous world must equally seek to describe it in language that goes beyond the mundane into the ethereal, the mystical, the poetic. And so it is with Mystical Emona. The mythological world that leaps from the pages is made all the more mythic by the poetic nature of the writing.
  
  The difficulty with true poetry, however, is that it requires restraint. Lyricism must be precise, delicate; it must not be allowed to become fulsome or overly ornate. It is here that the writer’s enemy is the ‘adjective’. It seems churlish to offer a criticism of a book that is so beautifully written but sometimes in their pursuit of lyrical perfection, the writers of Mystical Emona succumb to excessive use of adjectives, even double adjectives. It’s a small point but adjectival overkill can also hint at performance anxiety, as if precision in writing would not be enough to ensure that the reader grasps the intended meaning.
  
  But it is their enthusiasm to bring colour, atmosphere and enchantment to their tale that drives the authors and the lyrical passages are integral to the magical aura that pervades the story. It is a lyricism that enhances and makes more real the wondrous manner in which modern Bulgaria is enabled to sit easily beside the ancient land of the samodivi. It is a language that subtly opens the reader’s mind to the existence of a dreamland beyond the normal. It is a poetry that helps the reader accept unquestioningly the strange inevitability of a burgeoning romance in the modern village of Emona superimposing itself upon another love story that is aeons old.
  
  This is not my normal reading fare at all but I loved this book and I am suddenly sensing what it is that makes fantasy such a popular genre. I loved the story. I loved the characters, each a real and breathing person with depth and individuality. I loved Carina’s struggle to bring Stephan to the realisation of who he really is. Most of all, I enjoyed the magnetic allure that this mystical landscape exercised upon my own imagination and spirit, drawing me into the very heart of its legendary essence.
  
  This is a book that will not let the reader down. Aficionados of fantasy will love it; indeed, anyone with a heart who can empathise with love, loss, and renewed hope will love it as well. A well-crafted story, filled with magic, mystery, passion and wonder, Mystical Emona is book that will let no one down.
  
• 
  Robin Chambers

  Ronesa Aveela is the pen name of writers Anelia Samovila and Rebecca Carter, and together they have woven a tale of great power: entwining modern human lives and destinies with the will and longings of shape-shifting, powerful goddesses from a time long past, when the intermingling of gods and humans was – on the evidence of the surviving myths - more credible. There are still some places on Earth that modernity seems scarcely to have touched: where the ebb and flow of human life is one that still speaks of closeness to the elements, and to powerful forces in the universe once called Gods…
  
  In feel, the story regularly reminded me of John Fowles The Magus, with the central male character catching glimpses of an extraordinarily beautiful woman tantalising him with her nearness before unaccountably disappearing... He hears tales from the locals while striving to make sense of the increasingly powerful dreams that speak to him of a past time when an atrocity prevented the union of two lovers who were then destined to be brought together at the fulfilment of a prophecy many centuries later. Powerful forces of evil are personified in a former friend determined to take revenge for imagined wrongs. Good and evil, love and hate battle it out around the bemused protagonist striving to make a new life for himself – and eventually his daughter – in this isolated, beautiful spot on the Black Sea.
  
  The story is well told. It really got into its stride after what was for me a slightly shaky start. I confess to not being overfond of the ‘ablative absolute’ structure - sentences with lengthy subordinate clauses preceding the main clause - or sentences where the main clause is accompanied by a subordinate clause beginning with “as…”. Such curmudgeonly qualifications can and will be safely ignored by the majority of readers, and there can be no denying the power and persuasiveness of the tale itself: it sweeps you along with the undulating power of its emotion. If you are a sucker for a richly romantic tale with much magic and many divine interventions, then Mystical Emona: Soul’s Journey is the one for you.
  
• 
  Matthew Armstrong

  This story is written like an intricately woven tapestry. At times you are not certain if the main character is awake or dreaming and this adds the the air of mystery about the book. The book starts with Stefan and his wife celebrating their anniversary, and Stefan buying his wife a ring from an antique shop. That night on their way home, the taxi drive swerves, they are in a collision and his wife dies on the spot.
  
  Heartbroken and unable to cope, Stefan moves in with his in-laws in France for a while, but then decides to make a new life for himself in a little town called Emona in Bulgaria. Upon arrival in Emona, Stefan is baffled by the superstitious rituals of the locals, who are performing different acts to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. The people are very friendly and he enjoys the local food and listening to the folk lore and soon he feels right at home there and a new inspiration and enthusiasm for his artwork.. He plans to get himself set up and then bring over his daughter to live with him.. At the moment she is living with his inlaws (her maternal grandparents) until he can find a suitable school and get himself on his feet again).
  
  Anyway, shortly after arriving, he starts to experience strange events which lead him to start believing in some of the local traditions and even questioning if he is actually experiencing them or just dreaming. He falls in love with a mythical Samodivi, although he is never sure if he has just imagined her, or if she is real. He also has a strange feeling his old university friend is trying to harm him, but can't imagine why he would hold such a grudge against him.
  
  I won't spoil the story for you by telling anymore, but I will say this is a well written and edited book,which keeps you captivated throughout. I can imagine it would make a great movie or tv series. It keeps you in suspense and educates you on some of the local customs in Bulgaria. 5 stars from me!
• 
  Victoria Whitehead

  This book starts with the main protagonist 'Stefan' in bed with his wife on their anniversary. That night they are in a car accident and his wife is killed. Stefan then moves to Emona shortly afterwards to try and start a new life and the plot develops from there. Emona is a mystical town in Bulgaria and during the book you learn a lot about the culture, foods and rituals of the people who live there. The locals seem to be very superstitious, performing all kinds of rituals to ward of bad spirits and bring good fortune. At first Stefan (an American I think) thinks the people are strange, but after a short time living amongst them, he too starts to have super natural experiences which lead him to believe in the local folk lore. He even falls in love with a mythical Samodivi. (A girl with eternal beauty who appears to him when he is both awake and in his sleep.), although he doesn't quite know if she is real or if he is imagining her... The book is written so that sometimes you don't know whether he is dreaming or awake, and you are kept in suspense until close to the end.
  
  This book is unlike anything I have read before and I enjoyed the writing style, although I felt it dragged at times and could have been a little bit shorter.
  Apparently there is a second book, which continues the tale. So I look forward to reading that too!
• 
  Joy Lo-Bamijoko

  
  This is another great read. The story of great love between a mortal, and a not so mortal. It brings to mind the story of the re-incarnated who, until the end never know who they really are. They go through life experiencing strange happenings affecting their lives, sudden deaths, calamities, and twisted lucks until in the end, when they finally find their way, and get back on track.
  
  This is the story of Stefan who though re-incarnated, did not know that he was, and could not understand why life seems to rub him of his happiness. The day he bought that ring for his beloved wife’s birthday, was the day he reconnected with his past. The ring, or should we say, fate brought him back to Emona, a place where it seemed to have all started, his root. And immediately fate started to work on him to awaken him, to lead him back to who he was.
  
  It will take him time to come to this realization, or to even accept that he is that other self of long ago. This is a very beautiful and refined love affair that made love making seem so innocent and clean, and yet so desiring. It left a very sweet taste in my mouth.
• 
  Anna Burke

  This romantic fantasy adventure is, for the most part, a well-written story. Descriptions of Emona, a village on the Black Sea, along with the history and culture of life in the village, are intriguing and beautifully written. Protagonist, Stefan, i s a widower in search of something missing from his life. That search takes him to mystical Emona, and sets in motion a journey that carries the story along. That journey takes him to fantastical realms of dreams--a past life and a lost love. There's trouble along the way, of course, but this book believes in love, so it's not surprising how the story ends. The book is a long one, both the writing and plot a testament to the author's love of words and detailed storytelling. At times, that love overshadows the story, affecting the pacing and sequencing of events as the story as it unfolds. Overall, however, the story and presentation win out, making this a worthwhile read.
• 
  Aderonke Moyinlorun

  
  I like paranormal romance so Mystical Emona falls in the type of genre that I like to read and as expected, I was simply held enchanted and glued to the book till I devoured the whole book. I love this book and finds little to no fault with it. It has it strengths and weaknesses, but the strengths overcomes the weakness.
  
  Strengths: The prose is very well written, the dialogues are superb and I admire Ronesa Aveela's handling of characters.
  Weakness: The author tends to be overly descriptive sometimes and it tends to alter the flow of the story and slow down the pace.
  
  Although it might be difficult to get through the beginning, once you managed to get yourself familiar with the places and people, you can begin to picture yourself as part of the story.
  All in all, I love this book. For those who demand imaginative and excellent writing, and who doesn't mind learning about new cultures, folklores and traditions, you will like this book.