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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
The Blessing: Responsibility to Redemption by Adah Kennon revolves around Ra, the youngest sprite raised by the Jacinth tribe of the Heavenly Realm's second plane colony. He finds himself in the midst of a conflict when Sun City, the capital of the first plane and home to light worker deities, is invaded by Karoon, a tyrant with his own dark motives. Karoon's restrictions cause light workers to forget how to manifest their thoughts, causing them to exist only in dreams. Ra, more a rebel than a hero, embarks on a mission to Earth's island continent, Jamaica, with three other deities to learn from tech-savvy humans resisting Karoon's oppression. Despite challenges and distractions, Ra must stay true to his calling of serving others over self-interest and understand his destiny. The Almighty remains hopeful, as Ra has his favor but needs to prove his commitment to his purpose.
There are several things that I really loved about The Blessing by Adah Kennon, but the best of the best are the settings and the development of characters in all the roles. There is a 'no cast member is too small' feel to the story as a whole and Kennon's characters further up the food chain are provided with the space and dynamic prose to push them past singular dimensions. It's a rich and complex world with equally rich characters and intricate relationships, from DaValla's careful manipulation of conversation that highlights his strategic thinking and the potential dangers faced by Ra and the human body suit to Ra coming to a newfound understanding and determination to teach other light workers, bridging the divide between deities and humanity. Overall, this is a sincere and thought-provoking piece of literature and a solid first novel in the series.
