A review by jashanac
The Ellyrian Code: The Treaty of Edriendor by B.F. Peterson

3.25

TL;DR:
A lot of the world-building didn't make much sense, but the plot was compelling enough and I'm intrigued for a sequel.

Summary:
Following four students/initiates at an elite university in an epic fantasy world. 

Eshtem University has long stood as a pillar of equal opportunity, a place that any youth of Ellyrian can apply to to become part of the Edrei, an elite order of dragon-riding, magic-wielding peacekeepers. 
But as evidence of corruption surfaces within the order, the students will have to re-examine their future and the roles they wish to play as an Edrei… if they aren’t expelled first. 

Ideal Reader:
A more plot-driven reader who enjoys high fantasy and can get behind a university setting and who doesn't care if there is romance or not (there's really not - just a developing crush).

Writing:
The writing is solid. Nothing fancy or striking, but well-written with a good narrative flow overall.

Characters:
I liked the characters well enough. They were unique and all had a different voice, but I did find most of them to be a little bit superficial. I don't feel like I knew them all that well, really.

Plot/Pacing: 
I REALLY like the concept of the plot and the world, and particularly where we left off with what was set up for future installments. I'm genuinely a little excited to see where the story goes. 

However a lot of the world-building details were nonsensical to me: 

  • details about how the university operates
    • the demerits & merits being given out like freaking candy and in a very disruptive manner during the very first class... seems like an unproductive way to teach a class
    • the slates with chalk to take notes. And being shuffled around between students? They literally have parchment in this world. 
    • the magical timer on the dorm building locks... if the university is so super strict with curfews, and they give out all these demerits, I don't understand why they wouldn't just have dorm supervisors monitoring all the time? And why would the lock need to be magical? 
  • Why would the university turn a blind eye to their lil secret War House fraternity-style group… if part of the rules of being there is to all be equals & leave the House hierarchies behind?? 
  • the one group of people who record history unaltered being considered heretics and corrupt??? How would you convince an entire world that this is corrupt?? That it's honorable to redact facts from history simply because the other members of a House have renounced whatever individual troublemaker is being redacted?? 

Themes:
Corruption - specifically in institutions and governments. Friendship. 
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