Friday, June 29, 2018

The Chronicles of Eledon by Joni Parker

Spell Breaker (Chronicles of Eledon #1)Book Description:
2016 Book Excellence Award Finalist!
After a thousand years, Lady Alexin (Alex) Dumwalt breaks the spell around Seaward Isle, a ring of storms so powerful no one could leave the island. She joins the exodus of Elves, Dwarves, and mortals to Eledon, the World of the Elves on the other side of the entry point. But Alex faces a difficult decision. Her Water Elf grandmother expects her to stay in Eledon, but Alex was born and raised as a mortal. Her mixed blood, Elf and mortal, means that she must choose between staying in Eledon or following the other mortals who will soon leave for the mortal world through a special entry point created for them. What will she do?

My Thoughts:
I got completely caught up in this book.  Alex is the first in years to be able to break the storms that have kept everyone on the Seaward Isle for thousands of years. With that a mass escape is plotted and Alex is the focal point.  She is half elf and half human, and used to the mortal side not the elf. There are a lot of characters to keep straight but it is a good first book in the series. The isle isn't on any maps and there is a time discrepancy that intrigued me completely.
There is a lot in the book and the dilemma Alex faces is going on as an elf and living in Eledon with her grandmother and more of the elven kind or going to the mortal world.  Alex was born on the Seaward Isle so she has never known either world. Good book and great start to a promising series.  I cannot wait to read the next one.
It was a solid 4/5 for me.


The Blue Witch (Chronicles of Eledon #2)Book Description:
The second installment of The Chronicles of Eledon finds Lady Alexin in Avalon, seat of King Arthur’s throne. The mortal world is far from what she’d imagined, and the mortals are less than hospitable. Trouble abounds when Alex is accused of being the “Blue Witch” and sentenced to die for treason. In addition, the mysterious death of one of Arthur’s courtiers by seemingly magical means complicates her situation. Back in Eledon, trouble is brewing. Civil unrest and the threat of war demands Alex’s presence to assume her responsibilities as Keeper of the Keys for the Council of Elders. Only too glad to escape the noose, Alex executes a series of quests to prove her abilities to handle the keys and their strange magic. But can she save the Elves from Civil War? And commute her own death sentence by finding the Holy Grail?



My Thoughts:
After reading Spell Breaker, I jumped right into this one and wasn't disappointed.  Alex is the keepr of keys.  She is now in the mortal world and searching for the Holy Grail.  There are a LOT of issues along the way, not the least of which is her being accused of being the Blue Witch. I think since this is the second in the series, it is better to have read the first but you could likely read it as a stand alone.
Alex really does have a lot on her plate and the mortal world isn't anything like she expected. There are issues back in Eledon as well that Alex is the center of. Plenty of action, questions you need answered NOW will keep you reading and not wanting to put the book down at all.  I cannot wait for what the author has in store for Alex next.
It was a 4/5 for me.
Gossamer (The Chronicles of Eledon, Book 3)Book Description:
Lady Alexin, Eledon's Keeper of the Keys must continue to prove her powers when her grandmother, Lady Lestin and her friend, Lady Opaline of the Gossamer Elves are kidnapped by rebels and held for ransom. Alex attempts a daring rescue, only to discover that there is far more to this plot that she immediately suspected and the betrayal extends to the highest levels of the High Council of Elders.Threatened by rebel factions, suspected by Council members and under attack by deadly spiders, the young warrior has only her wits, her fighting skills and the powers of the Keys to help her. But will they be enough to save them all?

My Thoughts:
I was geared up and ready for this one as soon as I put the previous book down. (I would suggest reading the first two before diving into this one) It starts out with action and really doesn't let up. Alex's elven grandmother and a friend are kidnapped by rebels. Of course, Alex is determined to find and save them but she gets into more than she expected. It isn't just the rebel group that she has to contend with but Council as well.  Still Alex is up to the challenges they put in front of her.
I'm really enjoying watching Lady Alexin (Alex) grow and change as a character.  There is a dramatic difference in her from the first book to now and I loved seeing it happen. The keys are 'key' to a lot of her success and changes so they really are a part of her identity. The cover of this book almost got me with the creepy spiders but it really is pretty.  
Another 4/5, I cannot wait to read the last book in the series and have some questions answered.

Noble Magic (The Chronicles of Eledon, #4)Book Description:
In the final installment of the critically acclaimed series, The Chronicles of Eledon, Lady Alexin battles a band of mortal wizards known as the Octagon, discovers the mysteries of some legendary diamond eggs and finally comes into her true powers gifted to her by her conquests and the gifts of her Titan ancestors. Tasked with the seemingly impossible as the Keeper of Eledon's Keys, she must find a way to restore the entry points to Seaward Isle or see its inhabitants face certain destruction as the whole of Eledon's energy grid threatens to fall apart.

My Thoughts:
I'm going to start with that I enjoyed this series start to finish and literally read them back to back, which is how I would suggest reading for the best grasp of the overall story.  The author doesn't skrimp on the stories, they are all 'long' books but so worth the read.  As the last in the series, there is a lot going on and the author does a great job of balancing it to keep you interested and not overwhelmed. 
Alex's ability to always take on what no one thinks she can handle and come out on top is maybe my favorite quality. She is young and a lot of times underestimated but she also has some super powerful enemies. Mortal and Elven she also has Titan, Alex is a force all her own.
It was a 5/5 for me.  I think this was my favorite of all the stories in the series. 

Thank you to the author for the review copies of these books (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.


2 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your reviews. Thank you. I have a new book coming out soon called, "The Curse of the Sea" and Alex will be on another adventure.

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  2. Let me just add another comment. I just received word a few days ago that "Gossamer" was selected as a 2018 Book Excellence Award finalist. "Spell Breaker" had won this award in 2016 and "The Blue Witch" won it in 2017. Thanks again!

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