An entertaining read and a captivating story.
Brynte has recently inherited the throne from a father that had earned a bad reputation within the land. In an effort to make peace with those of another land, Brynte has also been pressured into an arranged marriage to the young Princess Istonia, whom he has never met. When Brynte realizes that someone powerful is seeking to have him assassinated, he must find a way to save both his life and his kingdom.
The opening chapters of A Step Through the Empty, surrounding the arranged marriage between King Brynte and Istonia, are reminiscent of a Kiera Cass storyline. But as a few hints of the fantastical elements of the story are revealed, a much larger plot slowly exposes itself and builds into a wildly intriguing conspiracy that extends far beyond the two introductory characters. The cast is diverse, including a sarcastic and loyal half-wraith best friend, a tech-savvy earthling and conniving queen-mother. Each chapter steadily moves the story forward and is clearly distinguished with a specific character’s role in the narrative. An interesting feature of the book is the way that earthly reality is seamlessly integrated into the fantasy universe by means of portals that allow travel between planets via a physics-defying area known as the Empty. A Step Through the Empty is an entertaining read and captivating story. H. E. Salian proves to be a skilled writer that makes a surprisingly easy read out of a very in-depth plot, which includes a fun variety of characters and worlds.
