REVIEW: A Journey of the Heart by Catherine M. Wilson

A Journey of the Heart by Catherine M. Wilson
Publishing information: eBook (Kindle Edition)
Publisher: Shield Maiden Press, 1^st October 2008
ISBN 10: 0981563627 (Paperback)
ISBN 13: 978-0981563626 (Paperback)

ASIN: B001MBUDNA
Series: When Women Were Warriors
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Kathryn

Blurb: “In Book II of the trilogy, Tamras’s apprenticeship as a warrior isn’t turning out quite the way she expected. Her unconventional choices lead to her crossing swords, almost literally, with Vintel, the war leader of Merin’s house. She finds herself embroiled in a power struggle she is doomed to lose, but the loss sends her on a journey that will change her destiny and decide the fate of her people.”

A Journey of the Heart follows on directly from the end of The Warrior's Path, and things begin to change for Tamras. Her friendship with Maara continues to develop, and we learn more about the warrior's mysterious past. The plot itself develops much more in this volume too, as the antagonist becomes clear and more prominent, and whilst it still retains the biographical form of the first novel, an end goal becomes visible in this one, giving the story a little more focus and pushing it in a new direction, but also raising questions as to how Tamras will get to that point and claim her birthright.

One of the major themes in this volume is motherhood and its many different forms and interpretation, but largely the focus is more on adoption and the loss of a parent or child. We're treated to views on how blood relations aren't the only requisite for being a parent and child, but also an exploration of how the absence of a mother or the loss of offspring can affect a person. These discussions are just some of those that happen, with others revolving around love, symbolism, spirituality and even the use of a sword, and aside from offering interesting views, they also cement the relationships between characters. When Maara talks to Tamras about the use of a sword, as an example, it adds to the teacher/student dynamic between both characters, yet when the topic of motherhood comes up the interactions change. It's subtle, but it works very well.

I do have a criticism or two for this book, however. Some of the discussions between certain characters sometimes feel as if they go on for a little too long and I found myself beginning to skim read some parts, meaning I had to go back and re-read parts to find the single word that I missed which returned the context to the following paragraphs, but this may also have been because I jumped into this almost as soon as I'd finished the first book. Another small problem I had was that the erotic scenes, whilst vivid and sensual, seemed to read a little similar. There are three or so times where Tamras is intimate with two different characters (not at the same time, I must add), and the names could be swapped with – mostly – little change.

My review for this book is shorter, and that's because it's been harder to write. A Journey of the Heart is more of the same, and whilst it finds more of a focus and the pacing increases, it's really nothing more than that. The characters are largely the same, although they develop through the pages, and a lot of the action continues to take place in some familiar areas. I don't think it takes away from the book, but nor does it seem to add to it. If anything, it adds to the feeling that this is one long novel split into three parts (something confirmed, perhaps, by the chapter numbers following on from the previous volume).

The recommendations from my previous review still stand – this will be great for anyone into fantasy with a historical basis or an emphasis on relationships. I must warn readers that it is a direct follow on from the first book, and as such this volume is not a jumping-in point.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Style: 8/10

Overall: 9/10