A review by wade117
The Sand Sea by Michael McClellan

adventurous tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Sand Sea by Michael McClellan 
Book #1 of the Rubric of Conquest series 
 
The Sand Sea is the unabashed love child of JRR Tolkien’s LOTR, Frank Herbert’s Dune, and Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy. 
 
By combining the sweeping good-vs-evil conflict of JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings with the geopolitics and ominous prophecy elements found in Frank Herbert's Dune and the period adventure setting of The Mummy(1999), Michael McClellan creates a timeless and grand story for the ages. 
 
I discovered this book being read by a fellow Soldier while in Poland on a military training rotation. He claimed he found it on a US Army recommended reading list. I personally haven't found it on any list but the descriptions of battles and conflicts, along with leadership traits demonstrated by various characters are highly instructive for military service members. 
 
The cover design grabbed my attention. The title evokes a sense of adventurous possibility. The cover art is not lazy stock artwork or simplistic cartoon. A detailed map indicates meticulous world-building. Everything on this book’s cover screams care, effort, and commitment on the part of the author. 
 
The story’s themes are powerful and universal. A very partial list includes: 
The value of courage in the face of evil 
Call to adventure 
Coming of age 
Hero’s journey/Katabasis 
 
The characters were varied, three-dimensional, and well-balanced between archetypal and relatable. Each main character had a defined character arc, though many arcs are left unfinished at the end of this first novel. 
 
The plot was absolutely engaging. There were many moments of heart-gripping tension, thrills, and pleasant surprises to keep the pages turning. As a casual fan of military history and tactics, I appreciated time spent on well thought-out battles and military logistics. 
 
 
Why not 5 stars? 
 The prose was not quite top tier. The matter-of-fact writing style could use more emotion. I found myself wanting to feel more of what the character was feeling. I look forward to seeing how McClellan’s writing style improves over time. 
 
I agree with other critics regarding the story of one particular character. Much time was spent on building her story at the beginning of the book. I became heavily invested in her only to see her play a relatively minor role at the climax. Maybe she will be a more pivotal character in the sequel? We shall see.  
 
Some reviewers had an issue with character names feeling inconsistent and/or unbelievable. I agree the character names should be more consistent, particularly at the beginning of the story when the reader is getting to know them. However, I enjoyed the fantastical element of the names and felt they enhanced the archetypal nature of the characters. 
 
 
 
Bottom Line: Fantastic story, highly recommend if you are looking for a deep dive into a well-constructed fantasy world or an action-packed adventure. Can’t wait for the sequel to come out.