Naomi Dawn Musch

What are the qualities of an epic?

     Is it a story vast in scope, carefully woven with life changing themes? Is the plot intricate and involved? In fact, might there be battles, or other dynamic scenes that include large casts? Does it usually involve a journey, both personally, and almost always physically? Do sub-plots grow out of the story and then tighten together toward a climax? Do a large cast of characters eventually become intertwined with one another, even though the main story and point of view is only focused on one or two of them? Is the story beautifully written?

Yes. All of those qualities bare marks of being an epic.

With that in mind,, I consider K.M. Weiland's new release, Behold the Dawn, to be the grandest epic I've read in 2009. I give it 5 stars, something I seldom do for any book. (One of these days I'm going to post my criteria for giving star ratings, since it's such a subjective concept to begin with.)

I search for books like this, sometimes long and hard and with little success at finding them. This is the kind of story that takes a reader far away to exotic locals, and of course, into a time long past. Set during the Third Crusade, Behold the Dawn is a story of a tournied knight guarding devastating secrets, of a Lady rescued from a blighted past and a present peril, and of friends and enemies with much to gain, and even more to lose. It is a story of sin and vengeance, and a story of hope and redemption.

As a writer, there were several things that especially stood out to me in Ms. Weiland's book.

• The language was eloquent. Even its battle scenes were beautifully written. I point this out because good writing, with appropriate use of language not only suits the time frame of the story and makes reading a delight, but it places the book a notch above, into the realm of the literary.
• The author paid attention to details, whether of place, of plot, of scene, or of voice and characterization. The importance of details, especially this being a historical work, were like adding tiny drops of color onto a palet, creating a painting with shadings that make the work dimensional.
• Ms. Weiland knew her characters intimately. They each came with a history, a life lived outside the book, and a story that will continue beyond its end. This was evident in their distinct voices and in the way knowing them drew me into their emotional well-being. They were flawed, yet compelling.
• There were twists and turns and mysteries to be solved. The author uses skill and deftness to keep the reader to turning the pages. 

Ms. Weiland is obviously a student of craft. There are many who sit down to write a story, to weave a tale, to give expression to the characters moving about in their imaginations. But K.M. Weiland has, with her novel, moved into the ranks of master storyteller and as such, we can see how a well-written novel is constructed.

K.M Weiland has now become one of my new favorite authors. As a writer continually looking to improve and hone my craft, I intend to read whatever she publishes in the future.