Book Review: Still the Sun by Charlie N. Holmberg

“Still the Sun” by Charlie N. Holmberg is a blend of dystopian fiction and fantasy. The world she creates in this novel is immersive and engaging. Pell’s journey, marked by her engineering skills and emotional growth, is captivating which we will see in this post. If you like to read this kind of amazing Fiction and Fantasy stories, you can checkout our latest The Lost Story Review.

About the Author:

Charlie N. Holmberg is an author famous for fantasy and romantic fiction and her Novels are award-winning, best-selling, and internationally published.

Still the Sun Book Review:

In Still the Sun, Pell is an engineer and finder on the imaginary sunlit planet of Tampere. Her village, struggling to survive with limited resources, depends on her ability to repair ancient artifacts. Pell’s life changes when Moseus, a mysterious man from an forbidding tower, seeks her help to fix complex machines in exchange for much-needed scrap metal. In the tower, she meets Heartwood, a brooding figure connected to her visions and hidden past.

Holmberg masterfully blends dystopian, science fiction, and fantasy elements, creating an immersive world where nothing is as it seems. The novel’s slow-burn romance between Pell and Heartwood adds emotional depth, while the unraveling mystery keeps readers engaged. Holmberg’s prose is fast pace yet technically accessible descriptions of the machines makes it good for read.

Also Read: The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

Synopsis of Still the Sun

The village struggles to survive under the never-setting sun but the village have very few resources, especially metal for tools. Pell is one of the few who can repair and repurpose ancient artifacts left by the Ancients. These artifacts are crucial for the village’s survival.

One day, as the mists roll in, Pell meets Moseus. He’s a unknown and kinda mysterious man who claims to live in the impenetrable tower near her village. This tower, which Pell thought was off-limits, contains some out of thought and complex machines. Moseus ask for Pell’s help to repair these machines and In return, he promises her the scrap metal she desperately needs. He sets strict conditions: Pell must keep her work secret and travel only when the mist is out.

In the tower, Pell meets Heartwood, another enigmatic character. He’s distant, yet there’s an unspoken sadness about him. Despite his coldness, Pell feels a strange (known) familiarity with him. As the repairing of the machines starts, Pell starts having disturbing visions. These visions feel like memories, suggesting she has a hidden past linked to the tower.

The novel then dives into Pell’s efforts to fix the machines. Author have described these repairs in a technical manner yet in a accessible way. Pell’s work is central to the plot, slowly giving more info about her world. Heartwood’s role becomes more important as Pell’s visions intensify. He reveals that his sister is trapped beyond a massive, impassable wall and he believes a portal can be opened to rescue her. Pell’s growing attachment to Heartwood adds emotional depth to the story. Their relationship is a slow-burn romance, filled with profound moments.

As Pell works forward, she begins to question her reality. The line between her memories and the present starts blurs. She starts to doubt everything she knows about her life and world. The truth, when it emerges, is shocking and transformative. It challenges Pell to rethink her entire existence. Holmberg keeps readers engaged with clues and hints throughout the story. The final revelation is both surprising and greatly satisfying.

The climax reveals the true nature of the tower and the Ancients. This twist changes Pell’s understanding of her world. The new reality is radically different, eliciting a “what the heck?” reaction. Despite the bleak scenario of a struggling society, Holmberg’s storytelling offers hope and resilience.

For fans of fantasy and romance novel with a darker twist, Still the Sun is a good to go read. Holmberg’s writing is spell bounding, and demands attention to detail. Her books are remembered long after reading and harder to forget. Book by book she reaffirms her talent as a storyteller.

“Still the Sun” may not resonate with everyone, because of its complex characters and multi layers story telling. Holmberg’s great ability to craft multi-layered storylines ensures that book’s uniqueness is maintained. Her writing continues to be a blend of fantasy and reality, creating rich, detailed worlds and characters. With every new book, she solidifies her place as a great writer in fantasy romance genre.

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