Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

In the very unusual yet enticing story entitled Snow City, G.A. Kathryns has managed to trigger those stirrings of my imagination that I didn't even know existed. The protagonist, Echo Japonica, has been in Snow City for as long as she can remember, which is actually just a few months. She is not aware of her life before her arrival in Snow City. Her life, as much as she can remember, has been filled with an illusion of perfect people and living conditions. She plays guitar five days a week in a local coffee shop and is devoted to her music. One day, however, she notices a girl sitting alone in the rain, without an umbrella and yet unaffected by the raindrops, and her world changes for good. No matter how hard she tries, she cannot get that girl, Charity, out of her mind. Little does she know that once she merges her path with Charity, her life will never be the same. Charity is not what she seems to be, and is rather a lot more than what meets the eye.

The Jane Austen-like language of Echo was extremely soothing to me. Being a fan of Jane Austen's work, I instantly felt a natural affinity toward Echo. As the narrator of the plot is the protagonist herself, I enjoyed several moments of the rhythmic language. The author has done complete justice with this style of English. It's not just Echo's language that has been executed to perfection, in fact, the author has been authentic while writing each of her characters' dialogues. The characters are portrayed with the ease of an artist that the author has proven herself to be. Echo's knowledge of music reflects either the author's innate understanding of the subject or hours of research.

The author has ensured that the plot remains gripping until the last page. This is a story that will keep your mind engaged in wondering what will happen next. I must confess, though, that the author has really tested the limits of her reader's imagination. I found it difficult to always make sense out of the normalcy with which Charity existed amongst others. However, these moments of doubt were very short lived because the story is presented in the most appealing manner. This book challenges and highlights the eccentricities that are present in our "religious" society. There are people who would shun their own family members to avoid going to hell after death. They all want heaven and, to ensure a place there, they are willing to push aside humanity and be blind followers of anyone with an incredible talent for manipulation. Needless to say, I loved Snow City by G.A. Kathryns wholeheartedly. I would recommend it to readers who can stretch their imaginations with no judgment at all, and who are open to being rewarded with a lot of food for thought.