Sunday, March 25, 2012

Book Review - The Elf Mage


The Elf Mage (Clan Elves of the Bitterroot, Book III)

By: Lyndi Alexander
Publisher: Dragonfly Publishing, Inc.
Publication Date: June 2012
ISBN: 978-1-936381-35-4
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: March 26, 2012

This is the third offering in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series and, no doubt, the best so far.

When readers first begin they stand beside the body of Daven Talvi. Daven is a courageous warrior who has shown his loyalty for his people in the most amazing and heartbreaking ways anyone ever could. This is the character who gave up his own beloved mate and son in order to save the Elf Queen long ago. This time around, he wakes inside the newest Elf Queen’s tree house - built by the elves for their Queen, Jelani. Now, Jelani is a positive and a negative for the elves. She has given birth to a son, she’s in love with Daven Talvi’s son, Astan, but she is half-human - which brings the human world into the elves’ ‘turf’ which has caused many a problem thus far.

Daven has a huge headache, especially since he was attacked by his own son. Astan and Jelani believe that Daven played a part in their son’s disappearance, and they are quite angry. They have stormed away, leaving Daven with his own thoughts and woes, desperate to find their son. Daven, knowing that it was not him who took the baby, starts out on his own mission; his own quest to bring his grandson back safely. He truly believes that the kidnapper must be the evil Grigori, but when Grigori is found dead, the mystery grows ever larger and more exciting.

Jelani and Astan head back to Jelani’s human friends located in Missoula. (These guys are the absolute best, by the way.) Crispy and Lane are computer geeks at heart and they are so funny - they are even the ones who protected the baby because they thought harm was going to come to him.

When Astan and Jelani arrive, they become embedded in a new quest that now includes an ex-military man named Kevin and, of course, Iris, who is in love with Daven and sticks up for him when Astan and Jelani accuse him of wrongdoing. Add into all this a clan that has set out on their own. Leaving the Elders behind, the Youngers are now becoming one under the rule of Veraena, who has told them that the truly evil Bartolomey is not dead (as the Elders believe) but is quite alive and gearing up to take over. War is coming!

Every aspect of this book, like the ones before, is intriguing. This time around a huge shout-out is given to Daven’s storyline. When this incredible warrior has to begin again - humbled - as a lone Elf who must find a way to bring back his magical gifts in order to serve his new Queen, the writing is incredibly thoughtful and extremely powerful. Readers will stand behind him and wait with anticipation for their hero to emerge from his loneliness. The beginning is swift and draws the reader in immediately, and the 'full circle' ending for Daven is extremely memorable.

Quill Says: Another incredible book in the series! Advice? Begin with Book I - The Elf Queen - and set yourself up for an unforgettable reading weekend!

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