J. W. Garrett

I received this book through Library Thing's Early Reviewer's program. I really am unsure how to rate this book. It was decently written, it probably would have read faster on an e-reader than my laptap, but that was a technology flaw of my own.

I am unsure how to rate this book. It is not a bad book, it is not a great book. There is a story, though it ends abruptly. There is magic, witchcraft, space travel, and family in this novel. So there is something for everyone. There is reincarnation also and a found family.… (mais)

Remeon’s Destiny is quite a gem. It’s set in 1947 (an interesting date we eventually find) on farmlands of a rural Virginia town that is brilliantly painted by author J.W. Garrett. We immediately get conflict in a big way between the Thomas/Stephen and his father James. What I like most is that we understand both their desires, neither wrong: the son wanting to go his own way on an adventure and see the world, and the father truly needed his son to follow in his footsteps for the sake of family needs. This makes the conflict all the more real and perplexing and sets great anticipations for what the possible resolution might be.

And the real quagmire is not the resolution but where it comes from. Outside forces that act upon this family are literally out of this world, upping the ante in the problem department to what feels like unattainable heights. One of the strengths of the novel is character development. From James and his family to the two factions of alien groups, the individual characters are unique, contrasting, and complex.

When we go off planet the stakes get even higher when we’re no longer fighting for the farm or the next meal, but the extinction of a race of beings and the rise of an unlikely hero. Garrett does a great job of worldbuilding on the fly without taking us out of the story or bogging down the narrative. I love the character names and how through all of this end-of-days high drama, Garrett can create authentic intimate scenes between the characters along with a few twists that definitely weren’t expected. This gem of a standalone novel stands out in a sea of serial novels. I love it. The Roswell touch was particularly appreciated. Five easy stars and looking forward to Garrett's next effort.… (mais)