The Rowan

A young girl orphaned in a mudslide learns she is a powerful Talent (those with psychic abilities). Her life becomes all about training for a high ranking position as Prime on Jupiter’s Callisto. Her world is altered and she begins questioning her life as she grows into womanhood.

I really wanted to like this book. I did like some things about it. The overall concept was interesting, but sadly, that’s really the best part. This book is definitely a product of its time, so I can’t fault it. There is a major emphasis on being a wife and mother as an ultimate goal to happiness that doesn’t sit quite right.

The Rowan, as she is referred to through the majority of the book, is a very strong young girl that grows into a confident woman. I did even like how that author handled her growing into her own sexuality and taking agency of that. It feels a little moot, though, when she instantly falls in love with a man before actually meeting him. Jeff, unfortunately, reacts very similarly and comes off a bit possessive. Suddenly, it feels like everything is far too much about him after that. She is built up as this amazing Talent (which was the entire point of the plot?) only for Jeff to show up and just be better. The Rowan just sort of stops being interesting, like she found her “real purpose in life.”

This will be going into some spoiler territory, but I feel it’s worth mentioning. The Rowan and Jeff meet telepathically at first because his planet is being attacked by an alien force, and he needs help. This is a very interesting turn of events! Yet somehow, this feels so minor. An alien race attacking humanity gets overshadowed by these two deciding they are in love after one time communicating this way. The issue of the aliens is brought up again, but once again, it does not really stand out at all compared to The Rowan’s personal life.

This was a book that had such potential, but that just wasn’t the story the author chose to tell. Despite it being part of a series, it doesn’t inspire the dedication to continue.

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