In the small, quiet town of Rami, retired general and champion warrior Natanel secretly trains his young daughter, Elowen, in sword fighting and defense tactics. Elowen’s dream is to fight with the Desert Corps as her father had before her. Unfortunately, in their society female elves are not allowed to be educated, much less join the army. When a summons from the king arrives, Elowen discovers that her father’s past holds secrets. The trusted general had been in service as Shield of the King, and now King Yacob has called him back into service because of an uprising in the capital. As Natanel prepares to travel, Elowen insists she accompany him. When they arrive at the capital, the city is preparing for the Kaila in which “elves, humans, and dwarves from across Eres come to celebrate and compete in peace.” Will Natanel stop the insurrection and keep the king safe? Will Elowen earn the respect of the Elven and prove her worth as a fighter?
Mooney creates a fascinating world of characters and creatures that immediately pulls the reader into the story. His writing is tight with beautifully descriptive language, well-rounded characters, and thrilling plot twists. Descriptions of battles and tournament fighting are intriguing. The author writes in an engaging style that invites readers into this world. The backstory of Elowen’s deceased mother, whom the king calls a traitor, is captivating. When the truth is revealed, Elowen must reconcile her feelings for both father and mother whose motives she doesn’t fully understand. As she discovers some hard facts about both her parents and the kingdom, she must decide where to make a stand in a complicated and painful situation. Luckily, she has befriended fellow tournament contestants and will not have to stand alone. This page-turner does not disappoint.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review