Witch Ember by John Lawson Reviewed by D. J. Herda, President American Society of Authors and Writers

During a dark and dangerous era “when gods walked the earth and the clay of Man was still wet,” the power of the universe resided in a single stone.  When that stone was finally shattered and its awesome energy released, all of humankind shared in the bits and pieces, from the least significant of specks to the smallest of pebbles.

With one exception.

Esmeree is a simple street urchin who carries with her through the land of the Seven Kingdoms a stone of unprecedented size and power.  As she slowly uncovers her unique gifts, she struggles to learn how to use her newly found powers for the betterment of a society that is pagan by creation and ruthless by design.

But others see the young girl’s power, and they want it, too.  The resulting struggle of Good versus Evil is as old as humanity: Can Esmeree learn to channel her sorcerous energies before others learn how to strip her of them?

A sexually charged, fast-paced fantasy thriller, this is a book brimming with the finest of details. From the author’s description of the ancient, sometimes convoluted, often virulent games of a pagan culture to the nuances of the languages of yore, it unfolds before your eyes as gently as the first flower of spring before imploding like a Black Hole into the darkness of Forever.

Esmeree moans and stretches across the soft linen draped on the floor.  Slowly, Drake slides back up her body, kissing her belly, her breast, and finally her mouth.  She tastes her blood on those lips.

Wandering through a make-believe world, you follow an impassioned child on her journey of self-discovery.  Soon you find yourself communing alongside her on her path through the universe—a universe of beauty and repugnance, of innocence and deceit, of awe and terror.  It is a world filled with the unexpected and brimming with all of the tranquility, promise, and horrors of a wild pagan land.

Author John Lawson is a rare word craftsman who takes relentless pride in his work.  His characters are rich and full, and their dialogue flows as fresh and seamlessly as the unpredictable waters down a Colorado mountainside.  Everything comes together effortlessly in one special tome, which I give a solid four- out of five-star rating.  Bravo!  Now, let’s have more.