Official Review: Air Riders by Echo Fox

[Bookaholic14]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Air Riders" by Echo Fox.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Air Riders by Echo Fox is the third book in the Equilibria Series. Set in Pangaea, the region of Aither is home to the Zephyrus – the people of the wind. The book starts with a brief glimpse into the past, where we are given insight into the character Aiko. We are then transported forward into present time, where we meet Tai and his pledge (fiancee), Keiko, and an entire village of the Zephyrus people. They are a harmonious race, comprised of the three Wings: Teaching, Weaving, and Hunting. But there is no single leader, no President, no Monarchy, everything is decided with equal input from all members of the community. For generations they have lived in peace and harmony with one another. Those who belong to the Teaching Wing school the young Zephyrus in the ways of wind and sound manipulation. Those who are part of the Weaving Wing build and maintain the village. And those who are with the Hunting Wing are responsible for hunting the Daiku to secure food for the village and maintain the safety of all who live there.

Their peaceful way of life is disrupted when the Daiku radically change their behaviors and begin attacking, threatening the safety of the village. Aiko steps up and takes the lead of the Hunting Wing, as well as much of the village, to deal with the Daiku problem, but her dictatorship methods and ideas jeopardize everything that the Zephyrus have held sacred for generations. Soon other suspicious happenings occur, and no one can be sure who to trust, or where each person's loyalties lay.

Air Riders is a wonderful sci-fi/fantasy novel. It can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the Equilibria series. Echo Fox creates a beautiful world and one can almost feel the peace and tranquility of the Zephyrus people. The relationship between Tai and Keiko lends additional depth to the story, without taking over and venturing too far into the romance category. It adds a layer of emotion to the story that had me more invested in the characters and the struggles they were facing.

Fox creates her own language and special terms that aren't clearly explained. Although the text allows the reader to draw an inference, and there is a glossary of terms at the end of the book, it can be somewhat confusing or distracting when these words appear in the novel. The novel starts off somewhat slowly, but it eventually builds suspense that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, eager to find out what happens next. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

This is a delightful sci-fi/fantasy novel. Given the content, it is appropriate for young adults and adults alike. If you're looking for a book that will take you to another world, this one doesn't disappoint.

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Air Riders
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[RadiantColour]

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed it, even if not as much as Fire Dancer :p Will this appear on Amazon & Goodreads?

[bluemel4]

Interesting review. I am glad that the book can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the series.

[Levi]

@Bookaholic14 great job on the review, you gave just the right amount of detail to have us intrigued. Congrats to the author on another positive review!

[ALynnPowers]

I love that the characters have Japanese names.... that intrigues me! Thanks for the review and congrats to the author for the positive review!

[kimmyschemy06]

Sounds like a very interesting book. Good thing it can be read as a stand-alone. However, if I decided to read it, I would read the entire series. Congratulations to Echo Fox for such a wonderful book!

[RadiantColour]

Aw, thanks! All four in the Equilibria Collection can be read as standalone stories, each following a different character in a different realm of Pangaea. I'm working on book five at the moment which will bring all four characters into the same room for the first time, so it's all very exciting! - Echo