myworldinwordsandpages

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Bree's simple life as a tavern maid with her father is flipped inside out when Elementals come looking for a truant, and find her father. Da is a Duke that ran from his duties as adviser and high Rider of the king. Thanks to the words of Prince Caden, Bree is spared death and brought into Court life as her father is locked away for his crimes. The talisman that her father slips her before he's taken away may hold secrets to the powers of the Elementals, or Adepts as the nobility call them. The only way to see her imprisoned father is to do as the King asks, to investigate her father's last mission which he went missing from and the treasure he was to retrieve for the King.

The narrator's clear and clean in speaking, but the space feels dead around her, like the sound is eaten up around her. She feels as she's talking to me with a slight ting of a southern and relaxed country feel to her voice as Bree, the main character. At the beginning I notice it's not at a steady cadence but that there is draw in some of her words and quickness in others. She does a smoothness that fits Lady Katherine and a slight low tone for Da, more a small attitude difference but not major voice differences for characters.

This book has the solid fantasy feel to it and the world. It also has a young feel with Bree at a young age and coming into court life. The story was easy to listen to. The world was introduced at the beginning, with the Elementals or Adepts as the nobility like to call them. The special names for what each Adept can do along with a brief description slip easily into the action of the story so it's not feeling like an information drop. Then we fall into the troubles that await us, or Bree and her father. All the scenes have an importance and you can see the connections as you reflect on what's passed as we move forward.

Predictable? Yes it is. But the writing is well done and sometimes familiar is relaxing to read. The friendships created, threats made, and the revolutions made of the characters were a few things I saw coming.

This is a nice fantasy for teen readers to enjoy. A fantasy element and story with characters that relate, even when clashing in thoughts.

The story is well written and relaxing for me. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.