Book Review: Reflections of Destiny

Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell

An action-packed story of magic, politics, and will power

Reflections of Destiny is a high-stakes tale that tests the will of nearly each character as well as the limits of the universe. Bouncing from planet to planet and battle to battle, Benzon Ray Barbin’s epic journey is sure to pique the interest of a wide variety of readers. 

We open the book with Enauria sharing an unapologetic opinion on starting a war in West Scarlet. She considers it a necessary step, one of many she must take to get what she desires. But what does she desire? This question remains a mystery to readers as well as many other characters in the world. While Enauria is scheming to get objects shrouded in mystery, the other characters are fighting wars in fighter jets and dealing with the political climate of the universe as it heats up. 

There’s no lack of action in Barbin’s Reflections of Destiny. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a chapter in here that doesn’t include either an epic battle or death. Fights occur both on land and in the sky, and Barbin plays intriguingly with the timeline. Who to trust? What version of reality is true? Which characters will last till the end? On top of all the missions and battles, the characters also deal with their fair share of personal battles. And one thing is for certain: everyone will give it a fighting shot.

The characters all have a specific goal in mind that keeps them pushing forward, whether it be to find a magical crystal or to reignite an old flame. Keeping up with all of their intentions could be the strongest aspect to this sci-fi story. Barbin brings his characters to life, and they shine through the pages.

Jaye is intent on finding a way back into Arlene’s good graces as their past romance seems unfinished. But he has a big secret that might get in the way of that. Arlene is dealing with a problematic relationship with her father, the previous president of the United States, as well as trying to understand which love interest holds a bigger space in her heart. And Enauria is using both of them, as well as their friends and work partners, in efforts to attain her ultimate goal. 

This story comes in at just under 150 pages, making it a quick read if you’re able to keep up. Reflections of Destiny jumps back and forth from the present to the future, and it has a plethora of characters to keep up with. For this reason it can be difficult to keep track of what’s happening all the time. Knowing who each person is and what time period they’re in is essential to understanding the story, so it adds a few more minutes to the reading experience. 

Similarly, the novel can feel a bit rushed at times. The worldbuilding leaves work to be desired, as the story more closely resembles a tale solely on Earth rather than one on various planets. With a bit more worldbuilding detail, this one could have excelled far beyond its characters. 

Reflections of Destiny has a lot of great personal stories to invest in, and while the worldbuilding could have been fleshed out a bit more, sci-fi lovers will still find much to enjoy in its pages.

Genre: Fantasy / Time Travel

Print Length: 146 pages

ISBN: 978-1735495316

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