Assessment:
Plot: This short, fantastical novel delivers light adventure and a poignant resolution.
Prose: Evans’s prose is evocative and unpretentious, while the integration of poetry thematically augments the story.
Originality: Although reminiscent of classic portal stories, this gentle outing offers a unique concept and memorable delivery.
Character Development: While characters may benefit from richer development, their face-value simplicity lends them an allegorical quality that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Date Submitted: June 24, 2018
“Stephen Evans imaginative young adult fantasy invents a vivid, perpetually lit world that abounds in swirls of luminescence and kaleidoscopic color. Above all, Evans’s elegant prose emphasizes the aesthetic value of art and the act of creation. Painting Sunsets’s fantasy elements are spot on, and the novel’s coming-of-age narrative will be equally engaging to YA readers.”
"Aiming to inspire young artists, this fantasy story hits its mark, conveying that art is essential to everyday life and that beauty is everywhere for those who take the time to look at the sunset and listen for the artistry that can be unleashed by the written word.”
