KAYE TROUT'S BOOK REVIEWS 1

I specialize in reviewing Print-On-Demand (POD) published books for my website and Midwest Book Review. Please query for a review by email to hgunther234@hotmail.com.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

KORY'S LOT: The Other Battle of Antietam by Tom David

Booklocker.com
http://www.tomdavidbooks.com
Genre: Fiction/Dark Fantasy Folklore
Rating: Highly Recommended
ISBN: 159113935X, $14.95, 248 pp, 2006


A compelling blend of fact and fantasy!

From the front cover and title one might think this is a story about the Civil War, and to some degree it is. However, in reality it is classic dark fantasy–the world of magic, the supernatural, of inexplicable occurrences that don’t have a foundation in the world as we know it. This dark fantasy is the realm of witches, ghosts, ghouls, apparitions, monsters, extrasensory perception as in precognition, telepathy and telekinesis. And yet still, this tale is the poignant story of one man’s love for his young son lost to cancer.

I wouldn’t want to spoil the read for you, so I won’t tell you too much more. I will say that Tom David does an excellent job at building the suspense as to what the story is all about: Why does Dixon and his wife, Rebecca, fear he may not return? What exactly is Dixon’s gift, which was ignited and enhanced by the witches? Can he accomplish what he has set out to do?

Tom is a true artist at verbal description and undercurrents of strong sexuality. His characters definitely comes to life. Their relationships are interesting and complex and leave lingering questions in your mind as to traditional morality. What is a real and abiding love between a man and a woman? Dixon loves his wife and yet he also has an erotic form of love for Leona, the witch who seduced him to preserve his seed within herself, plus . . . he sees all beautiful women as potential sexual partners.

All three elements–the Civil War, classic dark fantasy and a man’s love for his child–are developed thoroughly and woven together with threads of a sensual, erotic sexuality which I have not previously encountered from a male author. It is my guess that Dixon’s sexual perspective may be drawn from the author’s personal experiences with a touch of Anne Rice, and if he likes Anne’s writing, he’ll love Laurell K. Hamilton’s. Dixon's feelings and experiences about his son Kory's illness and death can't help but bring up tears and touch your heart.

Prior to writing his debut novel, Tom David was a stock broker and financial advisor for sixteen years. He did, indeed, sadly lose young Kory to cancer and this book is dedicated to his son. He currently lives near Sharpsburg, Maryland, with his wife, daughters and yellow lab Koby. The sequels in this trilogy are: Journey to Antietam and Flight from Antietam.

Kory’s Lot is a fantasy story with a serious purpose and a powerful message . . . love your children.

Congratulations, Tom!

Reviewed by Kaye Trout - June 6, 2006 - Copyright



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