Not so long ago, I hosted J. E. Klimov for one of her blog tour stops celebrating the release of her debut novel, The Aeonians. Last month, I finally had the pleasure of sitting down and reading Klimov’s book, and I enjoyed it immensely!
Before I dive into my review, I’d like to share the cover and blurb again, in case you missed the blog tour post.
See those weapons on the cover? They’re sai–the weapon of choice of the heroine, Isabel Deran. An unconventional but neat choice, in my opinion. I always love seeing different weapons used in fiction.
Here’s the blurb:
Isabel Deran only wants to practice archery with the castle guards, and that is the last thing expected from an elegant Princess. Living in the shadow of her late sister, Victoria, she is next in line to receive the royal armlet that is embedded with four stones: an opal, a sapphire, an amber, and a ruby. It is a revered family heirloom with the power of the elements passed down from mother to daughter.
However, an evil, once thought to be sealed away in a prison in which time does not pass, breaks free with an army that swarms the castle and wrecks havoc over the kingdom in search for the magical armlet. They are known as the Aeonians. When they kidnap Isabel and place their hands on it, the precious stones vanish.
Isabel is now trapped in a race against time to locate her stones of power with the head of the Aeonian army, Bence Brechenhad, stalking her like a shadow. With the help of her trusty weapon, the sai, she fights her way through seemingly impossible trials and fearsome monsters in order to restore peace in her kingdom.
The story itself is a fast-paced tale filled with magic, adventure, and a dash of romance. Isabel faces many trials as she tries to regather the gems lost from her royal armlet. Each gem Isabel seeks has an associated element, and Isabel must pass a test before she can reclaim it. Perhaps because I’ve been playing Wind Waker lately, her journey reminded me of that of Link’s–in a good way, of course, as I love Legend of Zelda-type stories!
Along the way, Isabel comes to rely on the help of an unexpected ally with a troubled past. Yes, that’s none other than Bence! Though he’s working toward his parents’ goal (yes, his parents lead the Aeonians!), Bence swears to help Isabel find the stones and not harm her until it comes time for their final showdown. Does he keep that promise? Well, you’ll have to read the story to find out!
Although I liked Isabel a lot, Bence is actually my favorite character–I loved seeing his character develop over the course of the story. Isabel went through many changes as well, and she came out stronger for it. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
If you enjoy a good fantasy, I recommend spending an afternoon with Isabel and Bence. You can find The Aeonians on Amazon.
