Review: The Allotter: The Threads of Destiny by Kimberlie L Faye

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Evie has built her life around disturbing dreams and the ability to see the length of the lives of the people around her.  Recently, it's become so overwhelming that she's afraid for her mental stability.

Her fragile world is shaken when two men cross her path in bizarre and confusing events.  She doesn't know who to trust, not even her own mind.

There's a truth about herself she's been denying.  The denial runs so deep that she needs others to help her find the answers, but Evie only receives more questions.

Gods and immortals seem to bar her path at every turn.  Will she finally realize her destiny? Or will she be lost forever to the power that is awakening within her?

“You answer my questions with questions? What the hell kind of game are you playing with me?” her voice shook with anger and frustration. 

“It is not a game I play with you. I am trying to ascertain how much information your mind can safely handle right now. That is all I’m doing.” He lifted his hands in the air in a show of surrender then took her hands into his.

Evie is a very believable character. Her ability to know how long a person will live and how they will die weighs heavily on her. This ability has shaped her life, from her career, to her living situation. Although the character growth is slow, it's consistent with the denial and fear she feels. Rather than having her identity and whatever immortal powers she might have suddenly blossom in a moment of truth, her resistance lends credence to the character.

The peripheral characters are sharp and well-formed. There is an air of mystery to most of them, as Evie is discovering who and what they are, just as she is discovering herself. Evie's instincts struggle with the lack of memory quite well. Her reaction to her mother's moment of truth foreshadows an intriguing mystery.

Weaving fantasy and mythology has been done before, but this is a refreshingly original take on the "mortal that doesn't know she's more" trope. The story does end on a cliffhanger, but it's not a brutal cut to credits. Instead, it's one of those endings that lingers in the reader's mind. It makes one wonder what's next, and how long will Evie continue to fight her true nature?

If Faye doesn't drag out the wait too long for Evie to accept the truth, and as long as the story continues to titillate with just enough information, this promises to be a very strong start to Faye's writing career.