A Distant Tomorrow: Mindlessly entertaining

A Distant Tomorrow by Bertrice Small

Five long and peaceful years have passed since the Winter War the people of the Outlands fought and won against the greedy nation of Hetar. But Gaius Prospero has not given up his scheme to become emperor, and after an unexpected and tragic blow, the Fairy woman Lara is pulled towards her distant and elusive destiny once again.

Unexpectedly Lara finds herself in a distant land across the sea know as Terah where, with her newfound powers, she manages to banish an evil curse and earns the love and adoration of the ruler Magnus Hauk.
However, even in this far away land, Prospero threatens Lara and her new way of life. Together Lara, Magnus, and the people of Terah must stand together against the locust land of Hetar in order to continue to live in peace and prosperity.

Admittedly, A Distant Tomorrow did keep my attention, probably better than its prequel Lara did, in actuality. A Distant Tomorrow still had the same clichés that were present in Lara, however: a heroine who can do no wrong, hastily written sex scenes, and situations that are glossed over and therefore fail to create any kind of suspense or drama.

I really have no idea why I keep coming back to works by Bertrice Small. She’s really not all that gifted as a writer, especially a fantasy writer, but there is something oddly alluring about her style and the continuing story of Lara and her friends. A Distant Tomorrow, and indeed the entire World of Hetar series is an easy and mindless read for those of us who enjoy the occasional trashy romance novel. I must admit that I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Bottom line: Can I call A Distant Tomorrow and the associated books good? No. Mindlessly entertaining? Absolutely.

Julie Waineo, one of our earliest guest reviewers, earned an MBA at Bowling Green State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in French. Now living in Virginia with her husband and dog, Julie is an avid reader of not only fantasy, but historical fiction, the occasional “chick lit,” and children’s literature.

The World of Hetar — (2005-2010) Publisher: Welcome, dear reader, to the world of Hetar. A land of Forest Lords, of Shadow Princes and Coastal Kings. A place that is both civilized and savage. Where the social classes know their place, but where anyone can, under the right conditions, advance to the highest pinnacle. This is a place where pleasure is not censured but encouraged; where the ends are justified by the means. And yet all is not as perfect as it may seem. The orderly, elegant veneer of refined Hetar cannot prevent the rebellion brewing in the Outlands, a dangerous place of both magic and mystery. From the City that is the very center of Hetar, Lara, the beautiful half-faerie daughter of John Swiftsword, ventures forth on a journey that will take her into the heart of darkness and the depths of desire, as she learns the true meaning of love that will last an eternity — a love that will change the destiny of Hetar forever.