Thomas-Review

Intro

Thomas by Michel G Manning is a book that feels like it could be doing more with itself. On the one hand, it's a rather chill and relaxed fantasy story about growing up and dealing with relationships on the other hand. However, it decided it had to be a generic fantasy story with a magic McGuffin. Then the story takes a leap into the existential for its ending, which resulted in a story that feels like a setup for a series that might never happen.

Writing

Thomas, at first glance, seemed to be about a young orphan boy who can become a monk through some lucky intervention with an implied goddess in child form. Sure there is a strange birthmark on his chest, but that isn't mentioned much. Then as an adult, he has to juggle his monk duties and the love triangle he has found himself in. All are very chill/dramatic until the third act, when a Mcguffin comes into existence and is stolen, epic adventure ensures, and Thomas discovers that he is the reincarnation of a martyr. The main problem with this story is that Manning doesn't appear to know how to end his own story. I enjoyed the relaxed slice-of-life fantasy drama about a young man and his love triangle, and the McGuffin inclusion felt haphazardly added n. There must have been another way to tie in Thomas's reincarnation curse or remove the element entirely.

Not every fantasy story has to be about epic quests and defeating world evils (the evil here is the devil, not kidding). Sometimes fantasy could be about a life, how one lives in a fantasy world that isn't in danger. Thomas could be about a man's life navigating the trials and tribulations of work, love, and living while having some magical powers. That is what Manning seemed to have been going for, and he was doing it well. But maybe he got some notes from the editor or the publisher and rewrote the ending. There needed to be some more build-up to the reveal of his reincarnation; the birthmark is mentioned several times in the first chapter and is forgotten until the final few chapters. It would have been better to cut out the plot point altogether.

However, asides from that, Thomas is a good story with interesting and solid characters and scenes. I loved the atmosphere being set up until the final chapters, and the love triangle is not entirely unbearable.

Conclusion

I enjoyed my time with Thomas; it's a well-written and exciting story that I wish was more concerned with being a stand-alone novel. I enjoyed it when it was about Thomas trying to make his way in a harsh world and growing up. Unfortunately, the final act felt somewhat tacked on and sudden, as if Manning didn't quite know how to end the story. Thomas could be better, but it could have been much worse. I doubt I will remember it much.

Acknowledgments

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