If you saw it, would you read it?

Eye Of The Soul by Terri Rochenski

About the front:
This cover has an insane amount of detail, yet a complete simplicity. It’s so different from what I’m used to looking at. That’s partly because it’s a fantasy vs. a romance—my normal genre. I really like this cover though and it’s nice to be breaking away from some of my normal reviews. This one though, has this girl who we don’t know with a rather somber expression. The setting with what looks to be an island makes me think there geography is small. Then there’s the horses running after … what? There’s so much of a story in so little space, it’s like we’re getting a visual right away. I really like that.

Now let’s look at what the back says:

Escape.

That should be Hyla’s first thought as her people are chained and imprisoned for no imaginable reason.

Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.

Or so she believes.

Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.

Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on.

Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.

Forever.

Does it match? Front to Back without the in between?

Escape.

Love this right away because then I think … are those horses after her? Is she running from them?

That should be Hyla’s first thought as her people are chained and imprisoned for no imaginable reason.

Oh no! Slavery?

Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.

Void of natives. So the guys on horseback are … bad guys? The soldiers? Now I see a major conflict right here. Humans vs. … this one girl/woman? And now we also know there’s someone who can save everyone. Gotta find him.

Or so she believes.

Oh no! So this might be an imaginary person?

Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.

Faith. Such a tough thing to have sometimes. I love that there’s a couple guys in here. So is there romance after all? Surely not a love triangle though, right? Hmmm….

Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on.

Love that the men are guiding and protecting her. Yeah, yeah, I’m a 2000s woman, but I LOVE a guy who’ll protect his woman. One who opens doors for her, lets her go first, etc and she doesn’t tell them not to. This is very endearing to me.

Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.

Yep, there’s that other person … butting into her quest. Why is there always someone else going after? Of course if it wasn’t, there’d be no conflict, but you know, sometimes, we just want all the good guys to win! (Or I do!)

Forever.

So sad! Go, Hyla, go! Don’t let him beat you to the pool!

Will I read it?
Oh yes. I’m not a big fantasy fan, but I love how this cover and this blurb go hand in hand.

Will you add it to your bookshelf virtual or otherwise? Share in the comments!