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Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
The Tainted Hive by Alan Salt is the first book in a fantasy series with enjoyable writing and interesting characters. Pawkett is a village famed for its red-gold honey, a sought-after delicacy, but when the elite citizens of the village begin to die after an early tasting, everyone knows something is wrong. Carmen Avel is a forest elf who has been banished for treason against her god. In her adventure in exile, she comes upon Pawkett and its mystery, with children mysteriously vanishing. While it is hard to trust the eccentric people of this village, she is convinced that her destiny is linked to it. But what does she know about the mystery of the tainted hive and can she be the answer to the darkness that invades the village?
The Tainted Hive is a beautiful story with incredible world-building and it is fascinating how Alan Salt brings nature to life in the narrative. Characters like Nil and Paja, the negotiator, are appealing, and the author describes them and the fun things they love to do in a captivating manner. The mysterious and enchanting village of Pawkett is a wonder to explore, but one that is haunted. While character development is deft and the writing both lyrical and enticing, the sense of mystery is one of the strongest elements that will fascinate readers. Alan Salt is a great storyteller who writes scenes that are focused and creates characters that are believable. The dialogues are filled with humor, revealing character traits, and they help to deepen the conflict. These are not ordinary characters; however, they are characters that readers can relate to and they evolve in a world that is imaginatively written and captured in compelling imagery.
