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A review by sgyawriter
Nijat of Nowhere by Lois Gateley
5.0
Half-elf Nijat is on the run from enemies who will stop at nothing to capture him. But when neither his elven nor human relatives accept him as one of their own, will he ever find refuge?
Nijat of Nowhere is a story of finding the strength to fight for what matters when faced with hostility on all sides—not only from evil forces, but also from one's own family. Set in a fantasy world that feels real with its intricate details, languages, cultural customs, and distinctive magic system, this book is just as much of an entertaining, action-packed page-turner as it is a heartfelt, character-driven exploration of what it means to belong.
Nijat doesn't fit in with either his elven or human cultures. Blamed for tragedies he never could have prevented, he deals with gaslighting from both sides of his family, but he's simply trying to survive under the weight of the trauma he's experienced. Inessa the Wayfinder is also caught between the expectations of the imperial Eastern culture and the customs of her nomadic Western clanspeople. But if there's any hope of finding belonging, they'll have to take a stand against Nijat's bloodthirsty pursuers.
What I love about this book is that it feels real. It's as true-to-life as a fantasy story can get. The story doesn't treat trauma as something to be overcome, but recognizes that even while healing happens in small steps, trauma is still something that irrevocably shapes one's life and sense of identity. This book brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Reading it, I felt like I was gradually getting to know the main characters as if they were friends, and was even invited to participate in their healing journeys. Both an exciting, multifaceted fantasy story and a thoughtful reflection on the meaning of "home," Nijat of Nowhere is a book that sticks with you long after the last page.
Nijat of Nowhere is a story of finding the strength to fight for what matters when faced with hostility on all sides—not only from evil forces, but also from one's own family. Set in a fantasy world that feels real with its intricate details, languages, cultural customs, and distinctive magic system, this book is just as much of an entertaining, action-packed page-turner as it is a heartfelt, character-driven exploration of what it means to belong.
Nijat doesn't fit in with either his elven or human cultures. Blamed for tragedies he never could have prevented, he deals with gaslighting from both sides of his family, but he's simply trying to survive under the weight of the trauma he's experienced. Inessa the Wayfinder is also caught between the expectations of the imperial Eastern culture and the customs of her nomadic Western clanspeople. But if there's any hope of finding belonging, they'll have to take a stand against Nijat's bloodthirsty pursuers.
What I love about this book is that it feels real. It's as true-to-life as a fantasy story can get. The story doesn't treat trauma as something to be overcome, but recognizes that even while healing happens in small steps, trauma is still something that irrevocably shapes one's life and sense of identity. This book brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Reading it, I felt like I was gradually getting to know the main characters as if they were friends, and was even invited to participate in their healing journeys. Both an exciting, multifaceted fantasy story and a thoughtful reflection on the meaning of "home," Nijat of Nowhere is a book that sticks with you long after the last page.