The One Apart
The One Apart: A Novel by Justine Avery is the intricate story of the reincarnation of Tres, who will be known as Aaron, for his final journey into the corporeal. The concept of the story is not like one that I have read before, and I was immediately drawn into the novel and felt a connection with the well-developed and relatable characters, particularly Sanch and Maria. The story begins with the rebirth of Tres into the corporeal Earth as he recalls every life lived before and ends with his ascension following his last earthly breath. Tres has unusually rapid development in his early childhood years that makes him seem like an oddity amidst others his age. He struggles through childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood trying to seem "normal" but knowing that he's different. The unconditional love, acceptance, and understanding of his mother, grandmother, and closest friends and lover are interwoven into the story on multiple levels. Tres himself is an incredibly caring and loving man who relies on his past lives and knowledge to help others. He is trying to live his ordinary life while trying to uncover his master purpose--to find out what evil hunts him and why and how to stop it. The intricate dialogue between Tres and The OverSeer compels the reader to open his mind to understand the full depth of the story and the world beyond our reality here on earth. The themes of love, acceptance, true friendship, and kindness emanate throughout as Avery masterfully tells this unique journey.