#Book Review – Over the Broad Earth; J.L. Feuerstack

Book review stop! Today I’m delighted to be the host for Over the Broad Earth, a fantasy novel written by J.L. Feuerstack.

First thing first, let me thank the author for providing me with an e-copy of this book. Much obliged *hat tip* 

MEET THE BOOK

Over the Broad Earth presents a sweeping fantasy tale of the eternal struggle between Angels and Demons. This imaginative tale tracks the continuing contest of two Celestial brothers, God and Satan, who, by ancient decree, can only unleash their sibling rivalry when human beings engage in combat.

The citizens of both Heaven and Hell endure all the emotions and circumstances of the humans they routinely inhabit, love, valor, passion, treachery, bravery, and heartache. Readers will follow the exploits of two of the greatest “eternal” warriors of the ages: Lord Zinc II (Heaven) and Schizophrenia “”Schitz”” Incenderos Nervosa (Hell). The rivals battle one another throughout history from the struggle between the Babylonians and Assyrians in the desert through and beyond the teeming jungles of Southeast Asia.

Along the way, these intrepid fighters interact with a host of characters (Moses, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and more), friends, fiends, and lovers. Displaying the same traits of compassion and selfishness known to all of Creation, Schitz and Zinc lead their soldiers – and try to stay alive.

699 pages
Fantasy
Publication date: 31/10/21
Purchase links

Amazon.com

READ MY REVIEW

Cover: Oh, I love it. The color palette fits the theme, and I have a soft spot for atlases in general. 

Over the Broad Earth has been a surprise from start to finish. 

First thing first, the plot. It’s inventive and interesting: I never quite read a novel like this, steeped into lore, history, and the eternal battle between good and evil. It deserves a star just for that reason.

Technically, Feuerstack has a good grasp of his writing skills. The prose flows without a hitch, and he’s able to craft vivid scenes at the tip of a hat. The chosen POV is omniscient; not a favorite of mine, but I’m still able to tell an omniscient done right whenever I stumble over one–kudos about it. I also like the arc of two of the MCs, Schizophrenia and Rubella. They go through an intense character growth, a detail that never fails to cheer me up.

I’m so glad Feuerstack chose to work with artist Alana Tedmon, as the drawings add a lot to the story. I studied some of them, and the trait is delicate yet poignant. I’m just sorry they’re all black/white because a splash of color would have given them even more depth.

The cast of characters, however, is far too big, even for a fantasy. I had to compile a list myself to keep track of them all—to be fair, there are drawings featuring both demonic and angelic lineage, but they’re a little confusing—and with a cast so big, the risk of having their voices blend into one another is high. Also, I spotted a few mistakes here and there. Nothing major, just punctuation missteps, but something a good proofreader would have caught.

All in all, Over the Broad Earth has a solid foundation. It just needs a little bit of polish to shine 🙂

3.5 stars on GR.

MEET THE AUTHOR

J.L Feuerstack holds a BA from Washington & Lee University and a MA from Queens College, both in the study of Psychology. He has worked in various investigative and supervisory capacities for the City of New York. He is a diehard supporter of Liverpool Football Club and the German National Football Team.

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