Title: The Doll's Eyes of Gnome (Gnome Stories)
Author: Ashley Parker Owens
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Coming of Age, Fantasy
Book Blurb:
In the evil queen’s shadow, a wounded son rises—
As the sheltered son of Queen Elyse, young Volney grapples with the fact he’ll never take the throne as king. He lacks the royal blood to rule and has no hope of claiming power. Soon, though, he shall see how dark the world beyond wealth’s walls can be—a revelation bound to quash his petty aspirations. Life in the kingdom’s work fields is not as wonderful as Volney was told. Instead, his fellow gnomes labor endlessly as slaves. The ogres that wield control are now accustomed to impunity, accumulating riches while the rest suffer.
When disease befalls the land, however, Volney may ascend despite his addictions and propensity to make wrong choices. One needn’t wear the crown to lead, nor dominate the Council to claim a voice. It just may be that he was born to play a more significant part than a monarch. Yet, the role of head scientist invites moral ambiguity and great danger—
Whatever comes to pass, it’s clear that matriarchal Kladenplatz may never again be the same.
My Review:
A queen’s son leaves the safety of his home to the fields and learns it’s time to stop playing games and start leading. Volney is the young son of Queen Elyse yet he’ll never be king. Something about royal bloodlines and all that. When he ventures out to the kingdom’s fields, his rose-tinted glasses are shattered, and he sees his fellow gnomes treated like slaves. The power has shifted and Volney discovers he has a voice and can lead if only he can control his vices. While he won’t wear a crown, his part could be far more significant. As he navigates through this new role, he’s tested time and again. Will he free the gnomes from servitude or will Volney succumb to his mother’s wishes?
The Doll's Eyes of Gnome is a thought-provoking fantasy I enjoyed reading. Volney is an intriguing character and his journey had me whipping through the pages. Ashley Parker Owens, once again, has written an intricate world with a dystopian vibe to it. The descriptive narration plus the world-building makes The Doll's Eyes of Gnome a gripping read. There’s quite a bit of strife and conflict in this book but the ending makes it all worthwhile. If you’re a fantasy reader, you’ll love The Doll's Eyes of Gnome. If you’re a fan of all things epic fantasy, you’ll want to read The Doll's Eyes of Gnome. I look forward to reading more Gnome Stories from this author. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
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Author Biography:
Ashley Parker Owens is an Appalachian writer, poet, and artist living in Richmond, Kentucky. While attending Eastern Kentucky University, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing. She also has an MFA in Visual Arts from Rutgers University. She is currently employed as a quality assurance software engineer.
My online resume with a comprehensive list of published images, poems, and prose can be viewed at my website https://www.ashleyparkerowens.com
Ashley is the owner of the indie press KY Story, proud publisher of twenty-six anthologies and chapbooks celebrating the Kentucky, Appalachian, and Southern voice. Several online art exhibitions are also available on this website. https://kystory.net
Gnome Stories Series
Gnome Harvest, 2021
Rosetta Gnome, 2021
Hollow Rigors of Gnome, 2022
Doll’s Eyes of Gnome, 2022
Chapbooks
Euphoric Drift, 2018
Retrospecter, 2019
Unruly Spirits, Dancing Girl Press, 2018
Puppet, Rinky Dink Press, 2018
Territorial Misfortune, 2017
Groups
Member of Bluegrass Writers
Participated in MadCap workshops
Bluegrass Writers Studio alumni
Relationships with KY Arts Council, Lexington Arts Council
Ello is the only social media I use regularly https://ello.co/ashleyparkerowens
Linkedin.com artwork and publishing account https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-parker-owens-39525480/ 313 connections
Note: I no longer use Facebook but it is still active
https://www.facebook.com/parker.owens1/ 334 followers
https://www.facebook.com/ashleyparkerowens 52 followers
Reviewed by: Mrs. N