Eikasa shows promise. The word “promise” is used often in reviews at WFG. In most cases, I think the reviewers are trying to find a nice way to say that it is not very good but a miracle might save it, or that with an awful lot of editing it might be readable. In some cases the reviewer is too nice to say, “You can’t write, try water skiing or something.” . . . Although I am sure that in many cases they do mean it. In this case, for example, I do mean that Eikasa shows promise.

The website is quite attractive, but has some major flaws; my IE8 kept changing the font size on the right-hand-side columns and also tried to keep refreshing the page every few seconds. Very distracting, but it may have more to do with my browser. Links are clearly marked and the author allows you to search the chapters by POV, helpful if you want to revisit an earlier scene for clarification. An RSS and Twitter feed are provided, as well as a link to the author’s main blog page and art. The author is, without a doubt, a talented artist, and her artwork is worth visiting. As of the posting of this review Eikasa has 4(.4) finished chapters, each containing three or four parts.

This web novel starts right out of the gate in chapter one assuming that you know a lot about Fantasy, shape-shifters, Ailurans, and warriors, (Which I did not), and it takes a little time for a reader like me to begin to understand what is going on. However, I assume most Fantasy readers are at least a little familiar with these archetypes and can follow easily from the beginning. The writing is brisk and easy, carrying you with little effort into the main current of the story.

The story itself is interesting and is written in the first person through the eyes of the protagonists, Nyx and in the third person through other characters like Elmiryn and Elle. When scenes involving Nyx are described in the third person it can be a little confusing, but the narrative carries you on, and you learn to accept this point of view (POV) changes. Nyx describes herself as “ . . . quiet, cautious, and unassuming” but seems to be everything but, arrogantly getting into trouble at every turn.

The author has a good vocabulary and uses words in interesting, but always correct, ways. This word usage, as in this sentence: “ . . . Quiet as a bog creeping through swamp . . . ”, or this one: “My brown cotton pants were baggy, and the seat of them molted with wear . . . ”, adds to the sense that the writer has a “voice” that is quite unique.

The Author uses adverbs ending in “ly” too often, removing punch and power from her sentences, and in many cases the characters seem to only be able to “flit” here or there, but the author, I believe, has talent and yes, shows promise. In the end, this is a web novel that is carried by the story, and if Fantasy is to your liking, I am sure you will enjoy Eikasa.

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