Review of The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races
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Stephanie Runyon
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Review of The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races" by JDeVereS.]
JDeVereS’ The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races opens in a hidden library with Eirin working. Eirin was responsible for translating journals that held heritage of the Elfkin races. His work in the “Cathedral” had taught him the need to bind to a mind stone to the legendary lightway paths. However, this information was lost over generations, and nobody knew why. Eirin found a journal with a seal showing it had not been opened. Breaking the seal, Eirin opens the book to find a crystal pendant inside. Examining the crystal, Eirin could sense the crystal was linked to someone. Turning the pages, he was shocked to see it chronicled a saga about Garith. The first entries established information about a team of warders.
Warders were field agents responsible for preserving life and adding communities to the Federation. Garith’s team consisted of three elf couples, a trainee elf, and a cook that was Dim Cheng crossed with Elf. Ramacandra “Ramas” Crow was Garith’s mentor and advisor growing up. Garith and Lannie were high-ranking elves bonded to each other. Through a mindstone link, the council warned the couple of a biological attack destroying every living being. The Empire had created gateways to send infected people to spread a virus to “purify” planets by exterminating the inhabitants. Meanwhile, Huang was on a scouting trip and found an injured native woman. Bringing her back to their base, Dawn stuns everyone by being compatible with a mindstone.
The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races features a struggle between field agents and powerful adversaries. Vivid memory flashbacks show what led to each character becoming a member and how their talents complemented the unit. Acolytes ruled the Empire. They treated the people as numbered donors they could kill for more power. The Federation was made of various races who were important and equal in status. The differences between the governments were depicted in exceptional detail. The plot was unpredictable, with supporting characters who added depth to the overall story.
Eirin and his wife’s conversation about their work in the beginning seemed to be less exciting than the story's saga; however, the author laid a solid foundation for the book. By providing this information, it was easy to understand what role every member filled and how they were vital for the story flow. While not a drawback, it did slow the pacing of the book. The saga’s start became faster-paced as revelations about both groups were brought into the picture. Therefore, I found the entire book a positive reading experience.
I rate this intergalactic fantasy novel five out of five stars. My favorite parts of the story were the intriguing character interactions. For example, farmer 8888, Tree, taught 1371 to appreciate the beauty of the world around her. He gave her the name Meadow because her beauty matched the sunlight on a colorful meadow. Every conversation was captivating and involved issues that were relatable. For instance, a relationship debate occurred between Huang and Dawn. Dawn claimed he was her mate; however, he wasn’t sure he should bond with her because she wasn’t a pure Elf.
High school-level readers who enjoy magical fantasy stories will find The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races appealing. The intense development of the characters' personalities and combination of their skills will captivate readers. Will the plague the Acolytes released cause widespread death? Will Garith’s team reveal how to bond with a mind stone to Eirin?
******
The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
JDeVereS’ The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races opens in a hidden library with Eirin working. Eirin was responsible for translating journals that held heritage of the Elfkin races. His work in the “Cathedral” had taught him the need to bind to a mind stone to the legendary lightway paths. However, this information was lost over generations, and nobody knew why. Eirin found a journal with a seal showing it had not been opened. Breaking the seal, Eirin opens the book to find a crystal pendant inside. Examining the crystal, Eirin could sense the crystal was linked to someone. Turning the pages, he was shocked to see it chronicled a saga about Garith. The first entries established information about a team of warders.
Warders were field agents responsible for preserving life and adding communities to the Federation. Garith’s team consisted of three elf couples, a trainee elf, and a cook that was Dim Cheng crossed with Elf. Ramacandra “Ramas” Crow was Garith’s mentor and advisor growing up. Garith and Lannie were high-ranking elves bonded to each other. Through a mindstone link, the council warned the couple of a biological attack destroying every living being. The Empire had created gateways to send infected people to spread a virus to “purify” planets by exterminating the inhabitants. Meanwhile, Huang was on a scouting trip and found an injured native woman. Bringing her back to their base, Dawn stuns everyone by being compatible with a mindstone.
The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races features a struggle between field agents and powerful adversaries. Vivid memory flashbacks show what led to each character becoming a member and how their talents complemented the unit. Acolytes ruled the Empire. They treated the people as numbered donors they could kill for more power. The Federation was made of various races who were important and equal in status. The differences between the governments were depicted in exceptional detail. The plot was unpredictable, with supporting characters who added depth to the overall story.
Eirin and his wife’s conversation about their work in the beginning seemed to be less exciting than the story's saga; however, the author laid a solid foundation for the book. By providing this information, it was easy to understand what role every member filled and how they were vital for the story flow. While not a drawback, it did slow the pacing of the book. The saga’s start became faster-paced as revelations about both groups were brought into the picture. Therefore, I found the entire book a positive reading experience.
I rate this intergalactic fantasy novel five out of five stars. My favorite parts of the story were the intriguing character interactions. For example, farmer 8888, Tree, taught 1371 to appreciate the beauty of the world around her. He gave her the name Meadow because her beauty matched the sunlight on a colorful meadow. Every conversation was captivating and involved issues that were relatable. For instance, a relationship debate occurred between Huang and Dawn. Dawn claimed he was her mate; however, he wasn’t sure he should bond with her because she wasn’t a pure Elf.
High school-level readers who enjoy magical fantasy stories will find The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races appealing. The intense development of the characters' personalities and combination of their skills will captivate readers. Will the plague the Acolytes released cause widespread death? Will Garith’s team reveal how to bond with a mind stone to Eirin?
******
The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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"If you aren't paranoid, then it's already too late." Marilyn Manson
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