The Forbidden Parallel, by Kevin Carver
BOOK REVIEW
To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.
First a Note
Writing can be a solitary activity. Sure, you have people who serve as sounding boards—family, friends, beta readers, editors—but much of the process requires time spent rooted to a chair with your imagination and writing implements. One thing I didn’t consider before I signed a publishing contract with Provender Press for my debut novel was the fact that the press would have other authors under contract. I mean, I knew I wouldn’t be the only one, but I didn’t realize that my world of sounding boards would expand. That I would interact with the other authors.
and I signed with about the same time. Our journeys to becoming published authors have paced each other. From our press Discord server to Substack to Instagram, Kevin and I have forged along our parallel paths (get it, “Parallel” paths😆). He has become not only a sounding board but also a cheerleader for me, and (I hope) he feels that I’ve done the same for him.~Someday, Kevin, we will meet IRL… Someday!
Also, cheers to Kevin for releasing an album, a soundtrack to the novel. Check out Kevin and the Parallels on Spotify.
I received an Advance Review Copy of The Forbidden Parallel in exchange for an honest review.
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The Forbidden Parallel, by
Fans of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs), epic fantasy, or sci-fi adventures, The Forbidden Parallel is for you! Book one of this planned trilogy proved to be a fast-paced, page-turning tale packed with action, intrigue, and secrets about secrets.
And yet, I wonder, is this but a saga read by a grandfather to entertain a grandson missing school due to illness? Or a yarn spun by a magical fortune-telling machine?
Part One unfolds with seven different points of view across the 14 chapters. And that’s not the final count of voices introduced in book one! The diverse cast explores the full spectrum of humanity, from compassion to cruelty, innocence to depravity. Some of the characters are easy to cheer for. Others? Not so much.
Kevin Carver’s storytelling is like unraveling a beautifully stitched garment, taking the tattered pieces and reweaving the threads into something more intricate than before. So be prepared for a tangle of story threads that suddenly form an intricate pattern of intrigue, secrets, politics, personal agendas, and vendettas.
However, don’t expect a tidy resolution–this first book ends with many storylines still in motion. Many questions will remain once you reach The End, to which I say, “Hurry up and publish book two, Kevin!”
Deeper Dive
The main character, Jah’ri, admits early in the story that he is hiding traitorous thoughts and is playing the revenge long-game. His hidden agenda is but one of many. And he guards it closely.
One of my favorite lines early in the story is the following. The visual informs us that Jah’ri is not the only one carefully curating their persona and hiding behind a facade. The line challenges the reader to look beyond the given words to uncover the deception veiled by the characters.
There are more lies in the kingdom than there were mosquitos.
~Excerpt from The Forbidden Parallel, written by Kevin Carver, published by Provender Press, 2025.
I envisioned a swarm of mosquitoes, like those common over shallow standing water on a late August evening in the Midwest. Nearly invisible until the sun hits that perfect angle to highlight the cloud of the nasty nibblers who would gladly feast on any warm-blooded bodies foolish enough to draw near.
At first, I struggled to connect with Jah’ri’s revenge plot—it felt like blind hatred without purpose. But once his childhood losses were revealed, his motivation sharpened into something more personal, more human. Still, it wasn’t until a quiet moment of grief that the reason for his single-mindedness truly clicked into place. This line broke through his icy demeanor and finally gave me a reason to root for him.
“I can no longer see my mother’s face, only her eyes. Perhaps because they are my eyes. I do not even remember my love for her. Only the sudden absence of that love. She is but a mist and shadow in my mind.”
~Excerpt from The Forbidden Parallel, written by Kevin Carver, published by Provender Press, 2025.
Layala, born in the lowest parallel—mockingly called “Shit’s Bottom” by others—was the character I most wanted to see rise. Her battles weren’t just against political oppression, but also against expectations placed on her gender and class. She craved recognition from her parents, respect from her community, and refused to bow to norms that only served others. She also refused to accept the status quo simply because that was how it had always been done. Her plight was one that was easy to understand and relate to on a personal level.
A prime example of her resolve is this passage when we first meet Layala. Generations earlier, the First Parallel was carved into the base of the mountain with tunnels and caves for passages and dwellings. Described as taller than most of the men, Layala faced a constant reminder of her struggle each time she moved through her home Parallel.
Every time she hit her head she cursed the builders who were long dead and wondered why she must be made to suffer in a Parallel made for short men.
“You can learn to bow your head, Layala.”
~Excerpt from The Forbidden Parallel, written by Kevin Carver, published by Provender Press, 2025.
Layala’s resilience is beautifully illustrated. She held her head high, not bowing because someone shorter built the passages too low. Even when “plucked”–removed from her home Parallel and forced into a labor camp–Layala moves with determination and defiance. Her continued strength and heartbreak brought a sense of human-ness to the story.
The young Naor was another character who offered an intriguing depth of humanity. His innocence and sensitivity allowed a bit of levity compared to the darker POVs from Jah’ri, Layala, and others. We are first led to consider that his quickness to bouts of tears is a weakness. However, through his connection to the major players in the story, his narrative proves to be what binds the disparate threads of the story together. In other words, don’t underestimate Naor—he’s not just a connector, he’s the emotional stitching that gives subtle strength and holds the whole tapestry together.
Final Thoughts
This book was fascinating, but it challenged me. With so many characters, unique names, and a slow reveal of the kingdom’s rules, I found myself disoriented at first—but that’s likely because fantasy isn’t usually my genre of choice. Once I got a handle on the caste system and world-building, I was hooked.
If you love layered fantasy with multiple POVs, rich political conflict, and characters who wrestle with deeply human struggles, pick up a copy of The Forbidden Parallel. Just be ready for a story that leaves a frayed edge you’ll be itching to untangle.
Where to find the book & author
About Kevin Carver
From Kevin’s About page on Substack: Kevin Carver’s storytelling is deeply inspired by his obsession with old vinyl records, too much coffee, and the stern timelessness of John Steinbeck and Denis Johnson. A graduate of the University of Rochester’s creative writing program and Gonzaga University’s communications and leadership graduate program, his career spans award-winning one-act plays, musical performances with forgotten indie bands, and writing published in Reflections Literary Journal, 585 Magazine, The Inlander, CITY News, FlowerSong Press, The NightWriter Review, and more.
When he’s not weaving tales or crafting immersive soundtracks to accompany his writing, you can find him chasing the sunset with his family on the California coast.
The Forbidden Parallel
A divided realm.
A brutal caste system.
A reckoning on the rise.
In the mountain kingdom of Kulloh-Sor, every citizen is born into a caste they can never escape.Jah’ri was born a Nail, the lowest of the low. Now he’s fought his way into becoming a Hammer in the king’s army. His final test will take him beyond the mountain and into the jaws of something ancient, and earn him the right to serve the king in The Forbidden Parallel.
But Jah’ri isn’t fighting for the king. He’s fighting for revenge.
As unrest spreads from the sea to the Court, others begin to feel the cracks. A shoreline girl fights to protect her home. A noble-born child uncovers a dangerous secret. A politician tries to stop a war she didn’t choose. A prophecy whispers of Solin, He Who Climbs the Sun.
In a kingdom built to break you, survival isn’t enough. And when the mountain cracks, the question isn’t who will survive. It’s who will rise.
Every revolution begins with a secret.
And when the mountain cracks, the question isn’t who will survive.
It’s who will rise.
About CB Mason
I’m a fan of dystopian tales with strong female leads, and I believe that the written word has a powerful impact—we see ourselves in the stories, learn from the characters' mistakes, and gain the tools necessary to use in our own lives.
I love engaging with readers and writers, so drop a comment!
And be sure to check out Shattered, book one of the Forged series, now available in paperback and eBook! Here are the locations where you can buy yourself a copy.
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WOW! Thanks so much, CB. Such a pleasure to write and publish alongside you.