Heart of Eternity

When you are invited to dance with the muse of love, when you are driven to the edge by the pain of the past, when you hold the remedy for what ails you in your arms you will find yourself in the heart of eternity.
Set in the Blue Mountain’s town of Blackheath in New South Wales, Australia, the novel Heart of Eternity introduces two very different characters, Jay and Naida, who encounter each other at a challenging time in each of their lives. Their individual expressions of the feelings they provoke in each other give rise to a turmoil that could ultimately claim their lives. When two people understand so deeply the pain each other has faced will it force them into the abyss of darkness or will their combined need for healing allow love to enter both their hearts?

*May Contain Spoilers*

N. Jay writes a story of spiritual survival in her novel, Heart of Eternity. Naida is a gifted young woman who is dying from cancer. She believes that if she can reach the core of her spirituality then her body can begin to heal. Jay is plagued by darkness with a demon residing in his heart, forcing the evil within him to the forefront. Their only hope is to find each other and fight against the darkness together. 

Naida is a positive and hopeful character. Though she is terminally ill, she refuses medical treatment and resorts to spiritual treatment instead. Naida uses persistent meditation to discover her inner light and then uses that light to heal herself while also helping others. Readers will enjoy the spiritual journey that Naida embarks upon, connecting with her through a generalized hardship. 

Jay is a villain born of the world. He's experienced more pain and loss in his life than he could bear. This caused him to devolve into a malicious being, constantly looking to cause pain and share his misery. Readers will sympathize with Jay, hoping that it isn't too late to save him from his inner demons. The connection between Jay and readers will revolve around feelings of understanding and empathy. 

The plot of Heart of Eternity introduces Naida when she first begins her spiritual journey, including unexpected visions of a man she's never met but one who needs her help: Jay. The story is a little confusing at times as the line that separates reality and the incorporeal is heavily blurred for both characters. The dialogue and descriptions of the spiritual journey are also difficult to understand. The writing forces readers to slow down and breath in the words to comprehend their meaning. These difficulties created a struggle for me, as a reader, and I found myself falling behind and unable to fully grasp the plot and evolution of the characters. 

Rating: 2/5 Cups