Mother of Trees

Oh my...where to start LOL

Elliah and her mother are drifters. Not by choice, they roam from place-to-place, when Elliah's “condition” becomes known. Although an Elf, her situation brings her no solidarity with her kind...instead disdain and coldness meet her gaze.

One day, she meets an Elf who sees her for who she is and yet ... he isn't disgusted. He embraces her difference and befriends her. He and his father are on a quest and somehow Elliah and her mother end up joining them.

There is a secret to who Elliah truly is, and learning some of her past along the way to the Mother of Trees fuels many questions inside her. Will this quest to the Mother finally bring some clarity? Or will this journey bring something darker...or worse despair.

Oh man...did this one being back the nostalgia for The Guardian League. If you haven't read that series yet...do it. LOL I really enjoyed learning about Elliah. It's not easy to persevere when so much, and so many are against you. Just because of what you lack (in their eyes at least).

At times, Elliah did irritate me but such is the attitude of youth. Eventually, I grew to love her character and the growth she shows in such a short story. This one definitely has a YA feel and, for me, it works.

I will say, the beginning was a little hard for me to get into. The pacing felt a tad slow and off, to me at least, BUT it picks up and when it goes .. zoom baby. I cannot wait for the 2nd book. That ending has me HOOKED.

This is definitely one for fans of this author's earlier series AND for those who love a solid fantasy that gives off those LOTR feels.

I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.