Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low income housing, and simple village water distribution systems.
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
I like The Windflower Saga. It shows the development of a family and a people in the advance toward a planetary civilization. I like the style that Aleksandra Layland uses to portray this development. It is somewhat unique and centers around the family. Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude, A Fight for Justice follows in this tradition. Family is first, and strong family values are a determining factor in solving larger societal problems. I like this. It may be a lesson for our own real-world problems. Far Haven is rich in detail and emotionally complex. The emphasis is on family bonds and family duty. This quite naturally leads to the solving of problems in the societies that surround these families.
I love the characters. I especially liked the section that dealt with the courtship and marriage of the young Keridwen Ulani and Justin A’ata. It showed the people and culture in a way that set the tone for the events that would follow. The description of the land, farms, and cities was very well done, and it contributed to the plot in a major way. This plot was well done and the descriptions and attention to detail ensured that it did not feel forced. Aleksandra Layland takes the time to lay everything out in a clear, logical, but emotional manner. Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude, A Fight for Justice is a worthy addition to The Windflower Saga. It can be enjoyed without having read the other books, but I’m guessing you will want to go back and read them after you finish this one.
