5/13/2020: The Black Shade of White, written by Renata Levy AKA Cattleya, continues to receive gold stars and positive reviews from reviewers and readers across the board. A recent review by criminologist and horror writer, Matt McAvoy speaks highly of the epic fantasy trilogy’s first novel, praising it for its drafting, editing, and stunning writing, even though English is not the author’s first language.
Polish by birth, Renata Levy primarily writes her work in English, taking care to polish the book to perfection, so there are no mistakes in grammar or prose. Adding an extra pointer to his review, Matt McAvoy emphasized on the poetic styling of the book, stating that perhaps it is due to the author’s Polish background that her turn of phrase is more sophisticated and sleek.
Spanning over multiple locations and multiple timer periods, The Black Shade of White depends on the classic trope of good vs. evil. However, because of Renata “Cattleya” Levy’s extensive research into the genre, the book stands out as a visual, dynamic, and visceral novel.
“Cattleya deserves review stars, definitely, for the huge amount of work she has put into this book, both in its drafting and editing – it must have taken her years, and for this, I applaud her hugely; the writing is stunning,” Matt McAvoy stated in his review.
Taking inspiration and feedback from reviewers and readers, as well as from her favorite authors, Cattleya continues to improve her work and is adding further changes to her novel keeping in line with the recommendations and constructive criticism provided.
“As a writer, you have to be accepting of both praises and criticism. I’m happy that people are taking enough time out of their day to give me their suggestions so that I can make my story better,” Cattleya said in a statement. “I’m also forever grateful that Matt McAvoy was so open in his review. It’s writers like him that inspire me to be more creative with my work.”
At present, Cattleya has completed the second part of a trilogy, The Black Shade of White: Destiny, and is working on the concluding book, The Black Shade of White: Victory, with the second part slated to be released in 2021, with the third in 2022.