In an alternate, post-alchemy version of North America, Logan Hale is the highest peace officer in Beldenridge, a Gothic city that sits on the shores of Great Lake Peril. He's haunted by the legacy of his war hero father and the memory of Clara, a woman he once loved. While conducting a suicide investigation, he finds evidence of the Wojiin, a vicious enemy thought long extinct. He entrusts the safety of the city to a young vigilante known as the Veil and sets out with his deputies to confirm existence of Wojiin activity. While on this manhunt, Logan experiences inexplicable visions of Clara, and he begins to question his sanity. The search leads them in a circle to an abandoned Wojiin campsite at which point Logan races back to Beldenridge to find the Wojiin have already attacked the city despite the Veil's best attempts to fend them off. Distraught at his failure to protect Beldenridge, he experiences a mental break and follows a final vision of Clara to the shore where he boards a boat trying to escape to safety.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: This alternate reality/fantasy tale follows the Reeve--a peace officer/sheriff looking for answers after a questionable suicide in his home city Beldenridge. However, he finds more than he bargained for when he discovers an ancient threat in the wilderness of a mythical and devastating foe.
Prose: Lewis's prose borders on the purple, sometimes oversaturated variety--forcing the reader to adjust to its melody. However, overall the lyrical descriptive prose accentuates the story and heightens its suspense and mystery.
Originality: It's somewhat unclear whether From Legend is set in a dystopian future, or alternate reality--and its mythos sometimes enters Dark Tower territory. However, the Reeve's world has enough of its own mysteries to lend it an originality; a layered world worth exploring.
Character/Execution: The Reeve is a loner with a past, he feels deeply yet must remain vigilant and watchful while shouldering the responsibility of many: a well-developed, multi-layered character with the appeal of loner/hero. The supporting cast also works well, (though somewhat in the background), while The Veil serves as an acolyte to the Reeve.
Date Submitted: August 23, 2023
From Legend echoes the stylistic choices of classic Gothic horror, drawing parallels to the works of Algernon Blackwood and Clark Ashton Smith. Lewis's writing thrives on creating an atmospheric tension that simultaneously captivates and disconcerts readers.
I have been a fan of Ian Lewis' work for some years now and he never ceases to amaze me with his stories. His writing style is descriptive and mysterious with a touch of poetry that never fails to catch the reader's attention. From Legend was no different.
From Legend by Ian Lewis was a surprising and intense read... It is one of the best fantasy stories I've read in a while, crafted to captivate a person's attention until the end and leave them wanting more.
