Safe Passage

 Safe Passage

By Karen Menezes

The first thing that caught my attention when reading Safe Passage by Karen Menezes was how it didn’t make any sense. Or did it? The first few chapters read like philosophical prose; they are hard to follow and I was left uncertain if they have any real meaning. However, it was the rich imagery and sense of mystery that propelled me forward and into the book. Eventually, the rich imagery and symbolism devolve into a setting, characters, and a story. The way that I, as a reader, eventually came to know these things throughout the beginning of the book came about as though through a dream. Karen gradually sheds the guise that obscures the nature of her book at the beginning, and what is revealed is a somewhat grounded adventure with fantastical and otherworldly elements.

The book follows a protagonist with the name of Lightbender. After having read the beginning chapters, at first I was uncertain as to whether this individual was yet another symbol or hypothetical persona. Instead, as the story progresses I come to know who or what the Lightbender is and his powers. Bit by bit I come to know the Lightbender, his contemporaries, and his past. All this is drip-fed to the reader at a rate determined and controlled by Karen. The first half of the book is laden with exposition, but Karen’s rich imagery and intricate details kept my attention. As the book progresses, Karen will at times switch between perspectives of different characters and even time periods. All this has the effect of keeping the reader on their toes, demanding their attention.

The plot itself is grounded in reality; it follows events that may very well happen today. However, the difference between this narrative and that of the news is the fantastical elements that prove to be the salvation of the protagonists. There are not many surprises or fantastical elements in Safe Passage, but the few that exist are truly magical. The extraordinary stands out in this book against a backdrop of the mundane and agonizingly ordinary.

Should I have to critique this narrative, I would say that its biggest flaw is its interpersonal interactions. While I think that Karen excels in selling a scene and revealing exposition, the dialogue sometimes fails to pull its weight. While some passages are relieving in their humanity, some just come off as a little awkward. Besides this, while realistic, the ending feels a little too rushed or convenient. 

One interesting note is that this book hits on the themes of forgiveness and pacifism. The protagonists of this book have no shortage of conflict that they must wade through, but they seem to show equal compassion to friend and foe alike. Christianity, while not a focal point, is a theme that’s hit on twice, and parallels are drawn between the more benevolent sides of that faith and the actions of the protagonists.

In the end, while the story and characters are intriguing, they are not why I enjoyed reading this book. In the case of Safe Passage, it is not the contents of the package that intrigue me, but how they are delivered. Aside from the sometimes clunky dialogue, I believe that Karen Menezes has a magical way of telling a story, and one which I think will leave you coming away satiated.

Perspective:3rd Person

Tense: Past

Length: 312 pages

https://www.amazon.com/Passage-Chronicles-Capherayna-Karen-Menezes/dp/B0DHC4Y63C