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sometimesleelynnreads's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to BookSirens for this free copy.
I had to speed read and listen to this book fairly quickly to get through this before the deadline (today!) but I think I did it! I’m sorry, BookSirens! I’ll do better, I swear. I still enjoyed it regardless.
Falin the Wizard is the main guy in the whole group. Wizards are born every one thousand years, and there are always only ten at a time. Falin spent his first twenty years of existence on Wizard Island, learning the craft and preparing for his quest to find the Gems of Elsana, which will enable him to control the elements and become a full fledged Wizard. As he gets introduced to his Champions on his quest, he has come to love them as if they were his children, wanting to make sure he does his duty to protect them from harm as long as they are supporting him – and longer.
Avatar vibes, anyone?
Read the rest of my review on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads
I had to speed read and listen to this book fairly quickly to get through this before the deadline (today!) but I think I did it! I’m sorry, BookSirens! I’ll do better, I swear. I still enjoyed it regardless.
Falin the Wizard is the main guy in the whole group. Wizards are born every one thousand years, and there are always only ten at a time. Falin spent his first twenty years of existence on Wizard Island, learning the craft and preparing for his quest to find the Gems of Elsana, which will enable him to control the elements and become a full fledged Wizard. As he gets introduced to his Champions on his quest, he has come to love them as if they were his children, wanting to make sure he does his duty to protect them from harm as long as they are supporting him – and longer.
Avatar vibes, anyone?
Read the rest of my review on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads
georgiesbooks's review
5.0
This beautiful story follows the wizard Falin and his champions on their journey to find the magical Gems of Elsana. They encounter many creatures of the dark but also of the light during their trip.
Review:
I absolutely loved this book. It is amazingly written, a fast and easy read and a book I can only highly recommend to every fantasy lover out there. The story is based on a group of characters that couldn’t be more different and it was exciting to see how the members grew together. Their relationship developed into something very special. Not only was there romance but real, innocent friendship.
Falin and his champions take us with them on their journey through a magical world full of light, but also shadows. With each step they take, with each fight they pick up, they grow stronger as a team. And with each adventure and each challenge that ends, a new one just begins. This book never gets boring. It’s full of exciting scenes, amazing character development and wonderful world building. You meet completely new species such as Gruns and Skullys but also familiar ones like Elves and dragons. It’s a great mixture and makes this books unique.
Another thing I really loved about this book is, that it’s not „one hero“ who saves the world. No, each champion does everything to help in their own way. In the beginning it seems as if Falin, as the wizard leading the quest, was the most important of them all, but as the story continues, every single one or the main characters has his or her very own heroic moment. They can only survive as a team they yet have to become.
Reading about the champions journey was wonderful and I’m already super excited for the second book because I need to know what happens next!
This book is just a beautiful, comforting read, you don’t want to put down after starting it. It’s a must read for every Lord of the Rings fan, craving for another wizard to take them on his journey. And Falin does. He invites us all to join him and his champions in his adventures. And you all really shouldn’t miss that chance.
So just let me be honest - I’ve totally fallen in love with Falin, his champions and the world of Elsana.
Oh and don’t even get me started on the cover - it’s gorgeous, okay?
So before I never stop talking about this amazing book let me just say:
This book just made me happy and I can just highly recommend it to everyone.
5/5 ⭐️
Review:
I absolutely loved this book. It is amazingly written, a fast and easy read and a book I can only highly recommend to every fantasy lover out there. The story is based on a group of characters that couldn’t be more different and it was exciting to see how the members grew together. Their relationship developed into something very special. Not only was there romance but real, innocent friendship.
Falin and his champions take us with them on their journey through a magical world full of light, but also shadows. With each step they take, with each fight they pick up, they grow stronger as a team. And with each adventure and each challenge that ends, a new one just begins. This book never gets boring. It’s full of exciting scenes, amazing character development and wonderful world building. You meet completely new species such as Gruns and Skullys but also familiar ones like Elves and dragons. It’s a great mixture and makes this books unique.
Another thing I really loved about this book is, that it’s not „one hero“ who saves the world. No, each champion does everything to help in their own way. In the beginning it seems as if Falin, as the wizard leading the quest, was the most important of them all, but as the story continues, every single one or the main characters has his or her very own heroic moment. They can only survive as a team they yet have to become.
Reading about the champions journey was wonderful and I’m already super excited for the second book because I need to know what happens next!
This book is just a beautiful, comforting read, you don’t want to put down after starting it. It’s a must read for every Lord of the Rings fan, craving for another wizard to take them on his journey. And Falin does. He invites us all to join him and his champions in his adventures. And you all really shouldn’t miss that chance.
So just let me be honest - I’ve totally fallen in love with Falin, his champions and the world of Elsana.
Oh and don’t even get me started on the cover - it’s gorgeous, okay?
So before I never stop talking about this amazing book let me just say:
This book just made me happy and I can just highly recommend it to everyone.
5/5 ⭐️
gameoftomes's review
3.0
Not a bad book by any means, but not my taste. I’m sure that there are younger readers and teens who will devour this story, who will love how it feels like a quest story crossed with fantastical role-playing games.
The world building is detailed but dumped onto the reader in regular intervals. The story starts with an initiation ceremony that introduces the magical quest and the myriad magical companions of the novice wizard Falin. It kind of feels like the beginning of a PC game and continues that feeling through episodic set pieces filled with mostly predictable danger.
There is some playing with tropes, such as a save the princess from the dragon side-quest that turns out to be an affable princess & dragon friendship, with the girl running away from her awful father.
Overall, I just didn’t connect to the characters on an emotional level. That left the stakes not seeming high, and the weaknesses of the story feeling emphasized. However, there is much imagination in terms of different magical races, history of the world, and political predicaments. I’d love to see where this author goes from here.
The world building is detailed but dumped onto the reader in regular intervals. The story starts with an initiation ceremony that introduces the magical quest and the myriad magical companions of the novice wizard Falin. It kind of feels like the beginning of a PC game and continues that feeling through episodic set pieces filled with mostly predictable danger.
There is some playing with tropes, such as a save the princess from the dragon side-quest that turns out to be an affable princess & dragon friendship, with the girl running away from her awful father.
Overall, I just didn’t connect to the characters on an emotional level. That left the stakes not seeming high, and the weaknesses of the story feeling emphasized. However, there is much imagination in terms of different magical races, history of the world, and political predicaments. I’d love to see where this author goes from here.
regardingreading's review
3.0
First of all a big thank you to Christian Sterling for providing me with an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The Gems of Elsana is a classic fantasy tale with all the key elements provided. How they play out? Well, you might just find yourself surprised.
A young wizard sets out on the quest of a lifetime, to come to his full power he has to find the gems of Elsana. Aided in his quest by a diverse group of champions, Falin the wizard takes the reader on a journey through his world. Will the group succeed? Will they even manage to get along?
For me it’s a story with a lot of potential. I loved seeing the relationships between the characters develop. It’s a story with many great moments; moments of humour, of intrigue, bravery. However as a whole I think it needs some fine tuning. I was brought out of the story a little bit by the dialogue, sometimes it felt too modern for what I’d expect characters in a fantasy novel to speak like. That might just be me though. Still, in the dialogue was where the characters showed most of their humour and sass which was what endeared me to them - particularly Melquin the sage and Red of the Freelands.
If you’re on the hunt for a fantasy story with some twists and turns, this might just be the book for you.
The Gems of Elsana is a classic fantasy tale with all the key elements provided. How they play out? Well, you might just find yourself surprised.
A young wizard sets out on the quest of a lifetime, to come to his full power he has to find the gems of Elsana. Aided in his quest by a diverse group of champions, Falin the wizard takes the reader on a journey through his world. Will the group succeed? Will they even manage to get along?
For me it’s a story with a lot of potential. I loved seeing the relationships between the characters develop. It’s a story with many great moments; moments of humour, of intrigue, bravery. However as a whole I think it needs some fine tuning. I was brought out of the story a little bit by the dialogue, sometimes it felt too modern for what I’d expect characters in a fantasy novel to speak like. That might just be me though. Still, in the dialogue was where the characters showed most of their humour and sass which was what endeared me to them - particularly Melquin the sage and Red of the Freelands.
If you’re on the hunt for a fantasy story with some twists and turns, this might just be the book for you.
michaelacp's review
5.0
First of all, I would like to thank the author Christian Sterling for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We begin this book with Falin, a young wizard as he prepares to embark on his journey for The Gems of Elsana. These gems grant him his full power, and control over the elements. To accompany him on this quest he’s given six Champions, each from different places and backgrounds. Together they trek towards the Wildbarrens, a dangerous and horrible place, encountering many moments of joy as well as anguish.
I loved this book for several reasons. The characters are instantly memorable as well as relatable. Watching them become their own sort of family was one of my favourite aspects of this story. The banter was always spot-on and hilarious, and the more serious moments were incredibly touching and just made me that much more invested in the characters.
I also particularly enjoyed this book because there is seriously never a dull moment. Not once. Every time I picked this book up I knocked out a few chapters without even realizing it because it just never slows down! The ever-changing scenery just added to the effect, and made this fantasy novel stand out from others.
I can’t recommend this book enough! I’m already anxiously awaiting the sequel. It’s a pleasant, fun, and easy read that offers something new and exciting to the genre of fantasy.
We begin this book with Falin, a young wizard as he prepares to embark on his journey for The Gems of Elsana. These gems grant him his full power, and control over the elements. To accompany him on this quest he’s given six Champions, each from different places and backgrounds. Together they trek towards the Wildbarrens, a dangerous and horrible place, encountering many moments of joy as well as anguish.
I loved this book for several reasons. The characters are instantly memorable as well as relatable. Watching them become their own sort of family was one of my favourite aspects of this story. The banter was always spot-on and hilarious, and the more serious moments were incredibly touching and just made me that much more invested in the characters.
I also particularly enjoyed this book because there is seriously never a dull moment. Not once. Every time I picked this book up I knocked out a few chapters without even realizing it because it just never slows down! The ever-changing scenery just added to the effect, and made this fantasy novel stand out from others.
I can’t recommend this book enough! I’m already anxiously awaiting the sequel. It’s a pleasant, fun, and easy read that offers something new and exciting to the genre of fantasy.
marinettenicole's review
5.0
"I will not lie to you. Your journey will be filled with treacherous challenges, horrendous foes, and unforgiving landscapes. Your determination will be shaken, and your evils you cannot fathom will present themselves at your most vulnerable. But this world is a balance of Light and Dark, and with these troubles you will make friends the same as you make foes, and you will know victory the same as you find defeat. This is the journey one must take to truly understand what it means to be a wizard of Elsana"
Every century Elsana is blessed with a wizard. A wizard is traditionally accompanied by one champion from every kingdom in the Crown of Elsana. Champions are asked to pledge their lives to the wizard, until death or until the wizard completes his quest. Sterling takes us on an adventure with Falin the wizard and his champions as they travel though Elsana while battling multiple threats in search of the gems in order for Falin to access his full power.
I loved the diverse representation of the main characters. The world building was superb. The magic system wasn't overly complicated and hard to follow. And i loved how we got to follow the characters as they mature.
Every century Elsana is blessed with a wizard. A wizard is traditionally accompanied by one champion from every kingdom in the Crown of Elsana. Champions are asked to pledge their lives to the wizard, until death or until the wizard completes his quest. Sterling takes us on an adventure with Falin the wizard and his champions as they travel though Elsana while battling multiple threats in search of the gems in order for Falin to access his full power.
I loved the diverse representation of the main characters. The world building was superb. The magic system wasn't overly complicated and hard to follow. And i loved how we got to follow the characters as they mature.
r_j_setser's review
5.0
“No journey spent has ever gone without stumbles.” -Into the Wildbarrens
Into the Wildbarrens is literally, exactly what the synopsis says! It’s the story of that wise wizard that we look to for guidance in other stories, and oh my goodness, it was done so well!
Falin is a young wizard, but as he embarks on this journey to find the Gems of Elsana, we see snippets of that old, wise mentor we know that he will become. The transition is not immediate, but gradual, as he and his Champions make mistakes, overcome trials, and learn so much about one another and the kingdom around them.
I rarely discuss each character individually in my reviews, but Into The Wildbarrens is about the characters more than it is plot. I mean, yes, the quest for the gems was fabulous, and the trials were endearing, but without these amazing characters, I doubt I’d have loved this book as much as I did. So, I’m going to highlight them briefly (And yes, I’m saving the best for last!).
Bossador the Prince. He is charming, noble, and quick to prove himself worthy of trust and responsibility. I love Bossador because, though all of the aforementioned is generally seen as strength, his struggles lie in acting with too much haste, focusing on himself being capable to help others (rather than seeing what actually might be best for the other person), and a natural tendency to want to take charge. Bossador wasn’t my favorite character, but his development from young prince yearning to prove himself, to the desired personality of a future king made me certainly appreciate him in the end.
Melquin the Sage. When I read about Mel, I often imagined the personality and charisma of Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy 2. I’m not sure if that is what the author intended, but that’s how I pictured her. Mel is soft, quiet, and not always in the limelight as far as the action goes. But when her time comes to shine, she isn’t easily forgotten and her choices to act in ways the others wouldn’t normally, often save them with better outcomes.
Nym the Assassin. Nym is playful, spunky, and a deadly aim. I really, really liked having Nym in the group because she added a flare. Her contributions during fights were abstract and her personality kept them all on their toes. Nym wasn’t in the spotlight quite as much as I would’ve liked, but I loved her nonetheless.
Carthon the Drak. Carthon is easily one of my favorites. I have a thing for redeemed characters and their struggles of past grievances so Carthon and his past intrigued me. Carthon has all of the dynamics to both challenge the group and to help them thrive at their absolute best. He has a wall built up around his feelings, but I loved watching him bond with the others and slowly break that wall down.
And the best for last: Redrick “Red” and Jimbuah “Jimmy”. Y’all. These two alone had me rolling. I was laughing so hard at their antics, conversations, smart remarks, everything! Into the Wildbarrens has such a memorable adventure because of these two, and I mean it when I say that Red and Jimmy alone is reason enough to pick this book up!
Overall, I give Into The Wildbarrens 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it wholeheartedly! It does have magic, some mildly detailed action/gore, and some mild cursing.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
Into the Wildbarrens is literally, exactly what the synopsis says! It’s the story of that wise wizard that we look to for guidance in other stories, and oh my goodness, it was done so well!
Falin is a young wizard, but as he embarks on this journey to find the Gems of Elsana, we see snippets of that old, wise mentor we know that he will become. The transition is not immediate, but gradual, as he and his Champions make mistakes, overcome trials, and learn so much about one another and the kingdom around them.
I rarely discuss each character individually in my reviews, but Into The Wildbarrens is about the characters more than it is plot. I mean, yes, the quest for the gems was fabulous, and the trials were endearing, but without these amazing characters, I doubt I’d have loved this book as much as I did. So, I’m going to highlight them briefly (And yes, I’m saving the best for last!).
Bossador the Prince. He is charming, noble, and quick to prove himself worthy of trust and responsibility. I love Bossador because, though all of the aforementioned is generally seen as strength, his struggles lie in acting with too much haste, focusing on himself being capable to help others (rather than seeing what actually might be best for the other person), and a natural tendency to want to take charge. Bossador wasn’t my favorite character, but his development from young prince yearning to prove himself, to the desired personality of a future king made me certainly appreciate him in the end.
Melquin the Sage. When I read about Mel, I often imagined the personality and charisma of Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy 2. I’m not sure if that is what the author intended, but that’s how I pictured her. Mel is soft, quiet, and not always in the limelight as far as the action goes. But when her time comes to shine, she isn’t easily forgotten and her choices to act in ways the others wouldn’t normally, often save them with better outcomes.
Nym the Assassin. Nym is playful, spunky, and a deadly aim. I really, really liked having Nym in the group because she added a flare. Her contributions during fights were abstract and her personality kept them all on their toes. Nym wasn’t in the spotlight quite as much as I would’ve liked, but I loved her nonetheless.
Carthon the Drak. Carthon is easily one of my favorites. I have a thing for redeemed characters and their struggles of past grievances so Carthon and his past intrigued me. Carthon has all of the dynamics to both challenge the group and to help them thrive at their absolute best. He has a wall built up around his feelings, but I loved watching him bond with the others and slowly break that wall down.
And the best for last: Redrick “Red” and Jimbuah “Jimmy”. Y’all. These two alone had me rolling. I was laughing so hard at their antics, conversations, smart remarks, everything! Into the Wildbarrens has such a memorable adventure because of these two, and I mean it when I say that Red and Jimmy alone is reason enough to pick this book up!
Overall, I give Into The Wildbarrens 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it wholeheartedly! It does have magic, some mildly detailed action/gore, and some mild cursing.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
wherethewildreadsare's review
2.0
This book is the story of a young wizard, Falin, and his quest to get all four gems of Elsana, which is necessary for wizards to come into their full power & protect the people of the Light. And with him are six Champions, all different creatures of Elsana, who are honorably bound to help him on his journey for all of the gems.
There were a few things that kept jumping out at me that made it impossible for me to finish the book. I couldn’t get passed the multiple grammatical errors. I’m hoping it’s because I got an unedited copy & it won’t be found in the released version. I also felt like the characters were sort of blah, I couldn’t connect with them. There were often times where I felt the dialogue was too modern & then other times where it wasn’t. The last thing that didn’t work for me was the consistent time jumping. All of a sudden we were five days into the journey; I couldn’t keep up. Now all this being said, just because I didn’t enjoy the book does NOT mean that the next person won’t! I highly encourage everyone to make the decision for themselves!
There were a few things that kept jumping out at me that made it impossible for me to finish the book. I couldn’t get passed the multiple grammatical errors. I’m hoping it’s because I got an unedited copy & it won’t be found in the released version. I also felt like the characters were sort of blah, I couldn’t connect with them. There were often times where I felt the dialogue was too modern & then other times where it wasn’t. The last thing that didn’t work for me was the consistent time jumping. All of a sudden we were five days into the journey; I couldn’t keep up. Now all this being said, just because I didn’t enjoy the book does NOT mean that the next person won’t! I highly encourage everyone to make the decision for themselves!
b00ksandqu0tes's review
4.0
A couple weeks ago, @christiansterlingg gifted me a ebook of Into the Wildbarrens. I ended up reading the entire book last night (who needs a bedtime?) and here are my thoughts!
This book tells the story of Falin, a young wizard, questing with his champions to find the Gems of Elsana, which will give him access to his full powers. First of all - if I could get into classical high fantasy the way that I did this one, I'd never leave. This book is a love letter to the high fantasy genre - starting with its tropes all the way down to its map that I had to refer to a million times. What I really appreciated was the approachability of the text as a whole - there is almost a slice of life feel as we travel with the characters. There are cool cultures and history that are complex (especially since the characters are from all different places) and those remain consistent throughout the novel. And it's funny. Like, I chuckled and reread passages and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
My biggest thoughts are around character development. Falin, our wizard, is really interesting in that he is young but destined to be the wise old mentor. Sometimes his decisions match his age and are rash or uncertain and reveal how young he is. Sometimes Falin shows a deeper knowledge and thoughtfulness that reveal how he is growing into that wizarding trope. It's delightful to see, and the dichotomy works well. In terms of the character development for his motley crew, I feel like I know some of them better than others. The group dynamics are hugely important and we learn a lot about how their cultural history affects their relationships, and I feel like I have a good grasp on all of our characters but one - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get me some more Melquin in book two!
This book is a great intro to a more traditional style fantasy with a modern feel. I also recommend if you enjoy quest stories, origin stories, misfits, friendship and found families. Or, check it out if you're looking for ideas for a kick ass DND campaign!
This book tells the story of Falin, a young wizard, questing with his champions to find the Gems of Elsana, which will give him access to his full powers. First of all - if I could get into classical high fantasy the way that I did this one, I'd never leave. This book is a love letter to the high fantasy genre - starting with its tropes all the way down to its map that I had to refer to a million times. What I really appreciated was the approachability of the text as a whole - there is almost a slice of life feel as we travel with the characters. There are cool cultures and history that are complex (especially since the characters are from all different places) and those remain consistent throughout the novel. And it's funny. Like, I chuckled and reread passages and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
My biggest thoughts are around character development. Falin, our wizard, is really interesting in that he is young but destined to be the wise old mentor. Sometimes his decisions match his age and are rash or uncertain and reveal how young he is. Sometimes Falin shows a deeper knowledge and thoughtfulness that reveal how he is growing into that wizarding trope. It's delightful to see, and the dichotomy works well. In terms of the character development for his motley crew, I feel like I know some of them better than others. The group dynamics are hugely important and we learn a lot about how their cultural history affects their relationships, and I feel like I have a good grasp on all of our characters but one - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get me some more Melquin in book two!
This book is a great intro to a more traditional style fantasy with a modern feel. I also recommend if you enjoy quest stories, origin stories, misfits, friendship and found families. Or, check it out if you're looking for ideas for a kick ass DND campaign!
ninaandthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Gems of Elsana: Into the Wildbarrens is er wonderful book. At first glance it looks like a classic fantasy and you might think “I’ve seen this before”. But soon you see that Christian Sterling has taken a classic setting and made it his own. Here we get the story of the wizard and how he becomes the powerful being we know so well. The world is even more fantastical than I imagined it would be with both familiarities and twists. The worldbuilding is great. The characters are lovely. We get to know all of them as they get to know each other on their journey. I am looking forward to see what they will learn and experience on the rest of their quest. All in all it is a magical read for all ages and I highly recommend it. Big thanks to Christian Sterling for sending me his book. It’s release date is July 17th.