“Nerdection Worth to Read”
Embark on a captivating journey to the world of Kolgennon in “The Mantle of the Past,” the first book in Lewis D’Ambra’s A Scattering of Leaves series. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom in flux and a burgeoning empire, this fantasy novel weaves a tale of power struggles, rebellion, and ancient forces awakening.
Spoiler-free Plot
The first book in the A Scattering of Leaves series is set in the world of Kolgennon, which is similar to our own Hellenistic Mediterranean. The series follows the events following the death of the King of the Doldun, Tekolger. The Doldun have recently burst from their small kingdom to conquer much of the known world. With an enormous empire up for grabs, Tekolger’s generals and friends are locked into a power struggle for the rulership of the world. All the while, conquered peoples plot rebellion, and old powers long thought myths and legends start to stir.
My take on The Mantle of the Past: A Scattering of Leaves Book One
World-building might be one of the most taxing and demanding elements in a story because of the many factors that come into play. Cultures, settings, lore, abilities, history, and a lot more play monumental roles in fiction when it comes to the concept of world-building, which is something that a lot of people need to take into account in this particular manner.
The Mantle of the Past: A Scattering of Leaves Book One by Lewis A. D’Ambra is an excellent example of how to create a world and make it work within the confines of the story. In this book, readers will discover a captivating and ambitious story that requires careful analysis.
The idea of the kingdom of Kolgennon being in a state of transition because of warfare and plotting draws from the author Lewis A. D’Ambra’s background as he has degrees in History, has been a part of the British army, and also had experience working in politics for the UK Parliament. This might not strike a lot of readers as important, but it does add a degree of knowledge and experience when it comes to the topic at hand.
The book works because it takes its time to tell a compelling story and allows characters to marinate in their feelings, particularly those of loss, sorrow, and even tragedy. That is something that is very compelling due to the context of a war. There are a lot of elements that need to be addressed so people can fully grasp what is going on, which is something that D’Ambra does in spades with this first book.
In that regard, the element of this being the first book is also a very important factor because it focuses highly on establishing the setting and the conflict of the story. In terms of that, this book successfully establishes these elements, and although some may argue that it slows down the plot, I personally believe it has long-term benefits.
A lot of books have a problem establishing tension, but D’Ambra does a wonderful job of escalating the stakes, to the point that the reader feels immersed in both the war and political elements of the story. It is a very fascinating read in that department and is definitely going to get people’s attention from that angle.
All in all, The Mantle of the Past: A Scattering of Leaves Book One by Lewis A. D’Ambra is a wonderful read, taking some elements from history and real-life politics to create a world that feels alive and engaging. Some readers might feel that the pacing is a bit slow, but I personally think that it adds to the epic feel of the story and elevates the world-building to a higher degree.
About The Author Of The Mantle of the Past: A Scattering of Leaves Book One
Lewis A. D’Ambra is from South Wales and comes from a mixed Welsh and Italian background.
Studying History at university, he went on to join the British army, whilst also studying for a Master’s degree in International Security and Development. Moving on from the army, Lewis moved into the political world working in the UK Parliament. In this role he honed his skills as a writer having to produce everything from reports, policy documents, through to political speeches. Lewis then went to work for various Government bodies in senior communications roles, work that included writing newspaper articles, hosting round-tables and giving presentations to large and diverse audiences.
He created the world of Kolgennon as a way to explore his love of history and mythology and to exercise creativity in a way that cant be found anywhere else.
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