abgayle

"I thought my father could do no wrong," the junior Seeker had told Weldon. "And then, for a while, I thought the High Seeker could do no wrong. If Layle had not possessed the courage and generosity to reveal his frailties to me, my slavish devotion to him would have become just as dangerous as my slavish devotion to my father. Layle saved me from that."Elsdon Taylor's arrival in the Eternal Dungeon was like a stone falling into water, sending out ripples in all directions. First, the High Seeker, Layle Smith found the traumas of his earlier life in the Hidden Dungeon taking control and this in turn set off other waves around him that not only affected the lives of other seekers but the dungeon itself. In "Transformation" we also see how these in turn spiralled into the outside world.These stories need reading on a number of levels. While the surface plots are satisfying enough, there are a lot of underlying messages worth exploring and considering."Transformation" still centres very much around the lives and love between Elsdon and Layle, but their actions are mostly seen as they impact on other characters: Weldon Chapman, another Seeker and Yeslin, a young boy adopted by Elsdon’s father.In the final story of the group, while the story is told from Layle’s perspective, it’s not straightforward.Once again, although the setting is in a dungeon complete with racks and whips, the physical nature of the torture rarely rates a mention. Instead, the emphasis is more on personal interaction and thought. This is, after all, a series based on psychology, so fear and guilt are more important than physical pain. So, if that aspect was preventing you reading these books, rest assured they're not gruesome. Except for the last story with its horrific images of Hell.I thoroughly recommend this series to readers who enjoy putting themselves in the hands of a good story-teller and who are open to follow wherever they may take them.