Assessment:
Plot: This is a coming-of-tale written in the form of a heroic fantasy novel and its plot develops on two fronts that Lander keeps well balanced: the battlefield, where the hero, Fel’annár, is earning his reputation as an unparalleled Silvan warrior; and the court of King Thargodén, where intrigues are brewing that could keep Fel’annár from achieving his destiny. The pacing is satisfyingly brisk but, insofar as this is the first book in a series, several subplots are set in motion whose resolution will not be seen until later books in the saga.
Prose: There is nothing particularly memorable about Lander’s prose, but the writing serves the characters well and establishes situations with an economy of style. The dialogue between characters reads authentically for their differing personalities.
Originality: Tales of characters achieving their destinies are at least old as Arthurian legend and common in modern heroic fantasy fiction sagas. While the story Lander tells is familiar, this novel is distinguished by the powers and attributes with which he endows the characters.
Character Development: The characters are this novel’s strongest attribute. Fel’annár, who at first is scorned as the half-breed child of a Silvan elf mother and an Alpine elf father, earns the reader’s sympathy for his admirable efforts to prove his mettle in battle, regardless of lineage. Equally sympathetic and more complex is his half-brother Handir, who is charged with protecting Fel’annár and keeping him in the dark about his secret heritage.
Date Submitted: August 22, 2019
