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Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite
Elisse and her sister Lenore live in Wiston, where Elisse has been thinking a lot about her friend Drance, a soldier in the Agan army, who has gone off to battle to defend their people from the hostile armies of Forsene. During one of her strolls through the woods, she encounters a Genish native, Dimplin, who tells her she is the key to his village's salvation. Despite her doubts, Elisse joins forces with the diminutive man as they embark on a unique quest. Neither realizes it, but their fortuitous meeting will take them into enemy territory and pit them against a greedy wizard and an ambitious ruler with terrifying plans in J.L. Putney's Within the Crystal Mountain.
Faith meets fantasy in J.L. Putney's Within the Crystal Mountain. The world-building is impressively detailed, highlighting the different communities of Agan, Forsene, and Gen while illustrating what sets them apart, including the unique gods they worship and how their interactions with these deities shape their ways of life. The character development is straightforward, outlining basic relationships among the principal characters without extensively elaborating on their origin stories. The concept of TallOnes coexisting with the Gen will appeal to fantasy purists. At the same time, perceptive readers will notice the growing significance of the characters' dreams and visions as the narrative unfolds. What stands out most about Putney's unique storytelling technique is how he transforms various simple subplots into a fluid, captivating adventure through seemingly unconnected clues that prompt the reader to think outside the box. Fantasy and adventure fans will enjoy reading Within the Crystal Mountain.