Neotopia Vol 1: The Enlightened Ageby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Nalyn is the Grand Duchess of Mathenia, or so everyone but her two closest friends (a psionic dolphin and a brownie) think. Secretly she's a servant stand-in so the real Duchess doesn't have to learn history, train her fighting skills, or meet with lower dignitaries or the common people. After a failed attempt by a dark force to kidnap her, the people of Mathenia are up against an invincible enemy and she must find strength and bravery in herself and her friends to survive the battle.Very few titles it seems have the quality and character to appeal to such a broad audience as Neotopia. Its wide range of unique and deep characters combined with a powerful fantasy story makes for a fantastic read that can be compared to the masterful works of Hayao Miyazaki. Nalyn is one of the strongest and easy to love lead females I've ever encountered. She's smart and pretty, has a strong will, fighting skills, and compassion making her a role model to other characters and the reader. She also endures double the strain with her two lives — the abused servant of the real Duchess and the warrior/diplomat/ruler. Neotopia: The Enlightened Age is beautifully rendered in full color (and is still only $9.99!!). Lush scenery, fantastic floating ships, and a myriad of characters including magical creatures are breath-taking as they infuse a new dimension of life to the story. Rod Espinosa has created something very special with Neotopia that anyone and everyone can pick up and enjoy. Written: August 29, 2006
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