jerseygirl2912's review
This story was not my cup of tea. I don't like the ghost, spirits, shaman things. I've read this book as part of a challenge. Otherwise I would have never chosen it for a read. Too much esotericism for my taste.
I can appreciate the language, story telling and world building. But I couldn't enjoy the story.
So I won't rate this book.
If you are more open minded when it comes to the spirit and shaman storyline you will enjoy this book. It's a very different kind of MM romance story.
I can appreciate the language, story telling and world building. But I couldn't enjoy the story.
So I won't rate this book.
If you are more open minded when it comes to the spirit and shaman storyline you will enjoy this book. It's a very different kind of MM romance story.
sylvia_is_reading's review
4.0
After the first chapter I slowly got immersed in this story about Ian who wants to become a spiritual guide. He helps his clients and friends by traveling in a spirit world and helping them to make there own choices. Before he can be accepted as a shaman and be truly of help to other people, he has to deal with his own issues. I loved Ian and felt for him while he struggled to deal with the loss of his brother. I didn't like all the characters in his life, I found Ang very distant and cold and I never got to know Sam very well. I didn't like the lack of comfort Ian received about his loss and that no one tried to help him deal with his need for revenge. I could feel Ian's hurt when Sam couldn't accept Ian's choice to be a shaman. I loved Michael and Ta-Kuat.
There was a moral in the story that I felt sometimes was too dominant. I think there was nothing wrong with the message itself but it was too explicit for my taste.
I like the concept of a world in which everything and everybody is connected, it's vaguely comforting to me.
There was a moral in the story that I felt sometimes was too dominant. I think there was nothing wrong with the message itself but it was too explicit for my taste.
I like the concept of a world in which everything and everybody is connected, it's vaguely comforting to me.
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
Ian McCandless is a hospice nurse. He not only cares for individuals who are terminally ill, but he shares his knowledge and gives them encouragement as it comes close to their time to move on. With his experience as a practicing shaman, his patients have requested him to be there to guide them in their final moments.
Ian finds himself in a dilemma when his brother, Will, is murdered during a robbery. Ian wants to use his shamanic experience to find the murderer and seek revenge, but revenge and hate are not the types of emotions a shaman can succeed with. As a shaman, he also has to control the urge not to choose a person’s path for them. Each person has a thread, and when a shaman holds that thread, he can see the future of that person. Whether good or bad, a shaman cannot interfere with anyone’s ending. Ang, who is Ian’s mentor, fears for Ian if he cannot let go of his anger.
Before Ian can be a true shaman he has to clear up his own issues. He needs to make peace with his family. I felt that he had guilt over his brother’s death—since they had been arguing at the time, there was no closure between them. Then Ian has to face a situation with his boyfriend, Sam, who tells Ian he’s afraid of him and can’t accept him as a shaman. When Sam’s sister is hurt, he seeks Ian out for help, but still denies Ian’s shamanic abilities.
On one of Ian’s shamanic journeys, he crosses paths with Ta-Kuat. From my point of view, this is where the story turned into a mystery about the existence of the “Door-Stone.” Ta-Kuat is from the Anasazi Village, in the year 1250. He is on a journey to find the “Door-Stone” for his mentor, which has the ability to help Ta-Kuat’s village survive. This meeting of Ian and Ta-Kuat also begins a unique relationship.
Traveling Light is a deep and thought provoking story. There’s a bit of a unique romance in the book as well, but the focus of the story is really on Ian and his endeavors to become a shaman. Mr. Meeker takes us on a mystical journey through different realms within the “Great Web”: All-Times-In-This-Place, All-Places-In-This-Time and All-That-Is. We meet a variety of spirit-guides: Raven, Joreb, Shining Women, Wolf-Lady and more. The author made these characters and places come alive with a colorful writing style and descriptions. Traveling Light is a story about faith, love and hope and being pure of heart and spirit, and the decisions Ian will make which will help him gain peace of mind. I highly suggest reading Traveling Light if you enjoy mysticism and spiritual journeys.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/release-day-review-traveling-light-by-lloyd-a-meeker/
Ian finds himself in a dilemma when his brother, Will, is murdered during a robbery. Ian wants to use his shamanic experience to find the murderer and seek revenge, but revenge and hate are not the types of emotions a shaman can succeed with. As a shaman, he also has to control the urge not to choose a person’s path for them. Each person has a thread, and when a shaman holds that thread, he can see the future of that person. Whether good or bad, a shaman cannot interfere with anyone’s ending. Ang, who is Ian’s mentor, fears for Ian if he cannot let go of his anger.
Before Ian can be a true shaman he has to clear up his own issues. He needs to make peace with his family. I felt that he had guilt over his brother’s death—since they had been arguing at the time, there was no closure between them. Then Ian has to face a situation with his boyfriend, Sam, who tells Ian he’s afraid of him and can’t accept him as a shaman. When Sam’s sister is hurt, he seeks Ian out for help, but still denies Ian’s shamanic abilities.
On one of Ian’s shamanic journeys, he crosses paths with Ta-Kuat. From my point of view, this is where the story turned into a mystery about the existence of the “Door-Stone.” Ta-Kuat is from the Anasazi Village, in the year 1250. He is on a journey to find the “Door-Stone” for his mentor, which has the ability to help Ta-Kuat’s village survive. This meeting of Ian and Ta-Kuat also begins a unique relationship.
Traveling Light is a deep and thought provoking story. There’s a bit of a unique romance in the book as well, but the focus of the story is really on Ian and his endeavors to become a shaman. Mr. Meeker takes us on a mystical journey through different realms within the “Great Web”: All-Times-In-This-Place, All-Places-In-This-Time and All-That-Is. We meet a variety of spirit-guides: Raven, Joreb, Shining Women, Wolf-Lady and more. The author made these characters and places come alive with a colorful writing style and descriptions. Traveling Light is a story about faith, love and hope and being pure of heart and spirit, and the decisions Ian will make which will help him gain peace of mind. I highly suggest reading Traveling Light if you enjoy mysticism and spiritual journeys.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/release-day-review-traveling-light-by-lloyd-a-meeker/
lauraadriana78's review
3.0
This book was certainly a different kind of read...I had so many elements that it felt like three books.
I was unsure that I could even write a review for it. For starters the writing was very good (other that the first paragraph which stalled a lot). This was not romance, but love was certainly a theme.
Ian loses his brother in a tragic murder and despite the fact that he is training to be shaman and should exercise forgiveness he is consumed by needing to avenge his brother. This books takes on Ian spiritual journey and that of side characters that he helps to heal.
I felt like I understood Ian well and became invested in this journey.I could not connect very well to some of the other characters like his partner Sam and the Shaman Ang.
I think this book would have been better for me if the author would have made all the spirituality themes clearer. I felt a bit lost at times.
It was a good books and it was certainly and interesting plot, I wish I could felt a stonger connection to Ian's world.
I was unsure that I could even write a review for it. For starters the writing was very good (other that the first paragraph which stalled a lot). This was not romance, but love was certainly a theme.
Ian loses his brother in a tragic murder and despite the fact that he is training to be shaman and should exercise forgiveness he is consumed by needing to avenge his brother. This books takes on Ian spiritual journey and that of side characters that he helps to heal.
I felt like I understood Ian well and became invested in this journey.I could not connect very well to some of the other characters like his partner Sam and the Shaman Ang.
I think this book would have been better for me if the author would have made all the spirituality themes clearer. I felt a bit lost at times.
It was a good books and it was certainly and interesting plot, I wish I could felt a stonger connection to Ian's world.
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