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The Silver Web #1
Eolyn
In a land ravaged by civil war, the Mage King Kedehen initiates a ruthless purge of women practitioners of magic. Eolyn, sole heiress to a forbidden craft, escapes by fleeing to the South Woods. When the mysterious Akmael appears in her forest refuge, Eolyn finds hope in the young man's friendship. But Akmael has a secret: He is the Mage Prince, son and heir to the man who slaughtered Eolyn's family.
When their paths separate and intertwine again, Eolyn and Akmael emerge as leaders on opposite sides of a violent conflict, one that will determine the fate of a millennial tradition of magic. When the final battle approaches, Eolyn must decide whether to take up arms against the most powerful mage in the kingdom - and destroy the man closest to her heart.
In Book One of this award-winning fantasy trilogy, survivors of the Great Purge become entangled in a web of desire, vengeance, and renewal. At the center, Eolyn, last daughter of an ancient sisterhood, rises up against a realm of brutal wizards, challenging their authority in a desperate bid to restore women's magic.
“Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes, with a romantic thread.” – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Headstrong, hopeful, and fiercely loyal to her roots, Eolyn is a character you can’t help but stand behind.” –APEX REVIEWS
A “dreamlike, fairy-tale ambiance…immersive political machinations and grand-scale battles.” –KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Magnificently written.” –KINDLE BOOK REVIEW
When their paths separate and intertwine again, Eolyn and Akmael emerge as leaders on opposite sides of a violent conflict, one that will determine the fate of a millennial tradition of magic. When the final battle approaches, Eolyn must decide whether to take up arms against the most powerful mage in the kingdom - and destroy the man closest to her heart.
In Book One of this award-winning fantasy trilogy, survivors of the Great Purge become entangled in a web of desire, vengeance, and renewal. At the center, Eolyn, last daughter of an ancient sisterhood, rises up against a realm of brutal wizards, challenging their authority in a desperate bid to restore women's magic.
“Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes, with a romantic thread.” – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Headstrong, hopeful, and fiercely loyal to her roots, Eolyn is a character you can’t help but stand behind.” –APEX REVIEWS
A “dreamlike, fairy-tale ambiance…immersive political machinations and grand-scale battles.” –KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Magnificently written.” –KINDLE BOOK REVIEW
327 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2011
47 people are currently reading
3817 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Gastreich
7 books354 followersK.R. Gastreich is an award-winning author of epic fantasy and paranormal fiction. Her stories feature smart heroines, forbidden magic, and dark mythology. Gastreich’s novels have been favorably reviewed by top editorial magazines such as Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, the Prairies Book Review, and Booktrib. Her short stories have appeared in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and World Jumping. Upcoming projects include the Ankala Oracle Deck, a divinatory deck based on the fictional World of Faelon from DGS Games.
An ecologist and nature lover, Karin has dedicated her professional life to environmental science education. After living and working abroad for many years, Karin now resides in the Kansas City area where she grew up. When not writing or doing biology, Karin enjoys hiking, reading, dancing, gaming, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
An ecologist and nature lover, Karin has dedicated her professional life to environmental science education. After living and working abroad for many years, Karin now resides in the Kansas City area where she grew up. When not writing or doing biology, Karin enjoys hiking, reading, dancing, gaming, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 30, 2016
This high fantasy takes the genre by storm. It approaches the story in a completely different manner. Yes, we have the traditional high fantasy elements, but we are given a very unique set of twists and turns. Whilst the story is based round suppressing magas, it doesn't dwell on the part pertaining to sex, which I liked. I wasn't interested in fighting for rights, but what the author did do absolutely brilliantly was to create a strong female character who was willing to fight for herself, and figh for love.
The characters, especially the leading lady, were created exceptionally well. As I mentioned, the lead lady was strong, courageous and smart. As the read progressed she became more real and had a lovely amount of depth and personality. I really connected with her and was keen to she where she was going to take things. The rest of the characters, like all good fantasy, where given lots of detail. Some of these, we got to know very well, and they have become big players, in the story. The others, we are likely to see in the future, so the detail and attention they were given will really round out the story.
The pace was brilliant, as was the use of magic. I found that we were constant kept on our toes, wondering what would happen next and just how long our main lady could hide who she truly was. I loved that we were given time to get to know the characters' background, but then would be thrown into a massive whirlwind.
The story, overall, is very interesting. It was easy to jus,p straight in and really become part of the read. I was hooked straightaway and may have tried to sneak in little reading sessions at every moment possible. As a series, I think this has a lot of potential. I expect the rest of the journey to be just as good, if not better. I really look forward to reading more.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The characters, especially the leading lady, were created exceptionally well. As I mentioned, the lead lady was strong, courageous and smart. As the read progressed she became more real and had a lovely amount of depth and personality. I really connected with her and was keen to she where she was going to take things. The rest of the characters, like all good fantasy, where given lots of detail. Some of these, we got to know very well, and they have become big players, in the story. The others, we are likely to see in the future, so the detail and attention they were given will really round out the story.
The pace was brilliant, as was the use of magic. I found that we were constant kept on our toes, wondering what would happen next and just how long our main lady could hide who she truly was. I loved that we were given time to get to know the characters' background, but then would be thrown into a massive whirlwind.
The story, overall, is very interesting. It was easy to jus,p straight in and really become part of the read. I was hooked straightaway and may have tried to sneak in little reading sessions at every moment possible. As a series, I think this has a lot of potential. I expect the rest of the journey to be just as good, if not better. I really look forward to reading more.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 8, 2012
High fantasy isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but Eolyn is a different story. What turns a lot of people off of fantasy is complex magic systems, outlandish characters, epic journeys that last forever, and long drawn out backstories. While Eolyn captures the basic elements of fantasy very well, she dodged the bits that make people shy away.
Eolyn is the journey of a young woman whose life has been torn apart by war. Running from further cruelty, Eolyn is set upon a path that changes the path of not only her destiny, but that of an entire kingdom. While trying to unravel her destiny Eolyn discovers more than she ever imagined. Magic, friendship, betrayal, death, and love are her companions on her journey.
One of my favorite aspects of the first part of the book is watching Eolyn grow up. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don’t usually like this approach because of the choppy, rushed feel the “growing up” chapters usually exhibit. This was not the case in Eolyn. Karin did a wonderful job of starting off the book from a young girl’s point of view. The innocence of Eolyn was expressed in her unfailing belief in the around her. This was made even better by the hints Karin gave through other characters eyes that maybe the people ein Eolyn’s life were not as pure as she believed. It was a fabulous tactic that lead into the later chapters were Eolyn is forced to confront lies and deceptions.
As Eolyn grows there was a subtle progression of her character from naïve child to a more understanding young woman. The change is not complete, of course, or Eolyn would see future conflicts too easily, but it is realistic.
Woven throughout the story is the love story of Eolyn and Akmael. While the story in general was beautifully written, the innocence of secret childhood friends turned into lovers on opposite sides of a war enhances every aspect of the story. In the beginning their relationship is sweet tempered by lies. As it grows it turns more passionate, but held off by circumstance and fear. In the end…well I don’t want to spoil too much, but trust me, it is a beautiful and heart wrenching love story from the first day.
In the background of love, lies, and battle are the descriptions of the world in which Eolyn lives. Vivid descriptions have long been a tradition in high fantasy, but Karin managed to resist the four and five page cataloging of every single detail some authors get trapped by, and keeps her painting of the surroundings simple yet captivating. In her interview Karin mentioned wanting to give people who have never had the chance to experience the forest a chance to do so in Eolyn, and she was successful. The descriptions of the South Woods and the journey to the King’s City are difficult not to get sucked into. You’ll find yourself reading a little slower just to take it all in.
Overall, I really loved joining Eolyn on her journey. My only critique-and this is really just a personal preference-is that I thought the book could have ended a little sooner. I say this not because I didn’t find the final few chapters fascinating and beautiful (especially the last scene) but because the battle and excursion to the underworld were so breathtaking and climactic that the final chapters felt slow in comparison. Having read the first few chapter of book to I thought it might have been interesting to have seen the book end after the battle and insert the final chapters of book one into book two. Like I said, this was by no means a flaw in the book, just my thoughts. For those of you who have read my work, you know I like things to end on a dramatic note!
Eolyn was a beautiful story, one I highly recommend.
Check out my other reviews and author interviews at www.theediblebookshelf.blogspot.com
Eolyn is the journey of a young woman whose life has been torn apart by war. Running from further cruelty, Eolyn is set upon a path that changes the path of not only her destiny, but that of an entire kingdom. While trying to unravel her destiny Eolyn discovers more than she ever imagined. Magic, friendship, betrayal, death, and love are her companions on her journey.
One of my favorite aspects of the first part of the book is watching Eolyn grow up. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don’t usually like this approach because of the choppy, rushed feel the “growing up” chapters usually exhibit. This was not the case in Eolyn. Karin did a wonderful job of starting off the book from a young girl’s point of view. The innocence of Eolyn was expressed in her unfailing belief in the around her. This was made even better by the hints Karin gave through other characters eyes that maybe the people ein Eolyn’s life were not as pure as she believed. It was a fabulous tactic that lead into the later chapters were Eolyn is forced to confront lies and deceptions.
As Eolyn grows there was a subtle progression of her character from naïve child to a more understanding young woman. The change is not complete, of course, or Eolyn would see future conflicts too easily, but it is realistic.
Woven throughout the story is the love story of Eolyn and Akmael. While the story in general was beautifully written, the innocence of secret childhood friends turned into lovers on opposite sides of a war enhances every aspect of the story. In the beginning their relationship is sweet tempered by lies. As it grows it turns more passionate, but held off by circumstance and fear. In the end…well I don’t want to spoil too much, but trust me, it is a beautiful and heart wrenching love story from the first day.
In the background of love, lies, and battle are the descriptions of the world in which Eolyn lives. Vivid descriptions have long been a tradition in high fantasy, but Karin managed to resist the four and five page cataloging of every single detail some authors get trapped by, and keeps her painting of the surroundings simple yet captivating. In her interview Karin mentioned wanting to give people who have never had the chance to experience the forest a chance to do so in Eolyn, and she was successful. The descriptions of the South Woods and the journey to the King’s City are difficult not to get sucked into. You’ll find yourself reading a little slower just to take it all in.
Overall, I really loved joining Eolyn on her journey. My only critique-and this is really just a personal preference-is that I thought the book could have ended a little sooner. I say this not because I didn’t find the final few chapters fascinating and beautiful (especially the last scene) but because the battle and excursion to the underworld were so breathtaking and climactic that the final chapters felt slow in comparison. Having read the first few chapter of book to I thought it might have been interesting to have seen the book end after the battle and insert the final chapters of book one into book two. Like I said, this was by no means a flaw in the book, just my thoughts. For those of you who have read my work, you know I like things to end on a dramatic note!
Eolyn was a beautiful story, one I highly recommend.
Check out my other reviews and author interviews at www.theediblebookshelf.blogspot.com
January 28, 2012
This fantasy is set in a world in women's magic has been brutally repressed, leading to women themselves being oppressed. The heroine is one of the few who survived the purges of maga, and she becomes the most powerful practitioner of women's magic in the land, although she must hide it or be executed. I won't give away more of the plot than that, other than to say that I was surprised at many turns. Although rooted in traditional fantasy, EOLYN stretches and breaks the bounds in many ways, leading to a read that is fresh and unpredictable.
May 2, 2016
This wouldn't have normally popped up on my radar but the copy got my interest and I was glad I gave it a go. If you are looking for a run of the mill fantasy with cardboard characters and a genre typical storyline then this may not be for you, but if you want originality, powerful characters and superb plot that really grabs you then you won't do much better. Given that the series has started so strongly I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
August 5, 2013
I will be writing a full review of this magnificent book soon but want to say now that it's the best of the sword and magic fantasies out there today. Much better (less tedious than Jordan's Wheel of Time series). I write in this genre too and am therefore qualified to spot genius when I see it and I do in Karin's work.
January 11, 2012
THIS REVIEW HAS SPOILERS!!!!
"Eolyn" has strands of epic fantasy and romance that satisfied my love of romantic adventure. Having read the first few chapters of this book when it was work-shopped on tNBW, I was really excited to see how the story turned out.
The first few hundred pages focus on Eolyn as a child, her education into the now forbidden magic of her ancestors and her friendship with Achim/Akmael, the Prince of a Kingdom that kills women who possess magic.
This part of the book was charming, full of rich world building. Gastreich was able to weave recognizable bits of fairy tale, folklore and legend into the stories that surrounded Eolyn's childhood and education of her mystical inheritance. There's also a very strong thread of Feminism that runs through this book; and I mean that in an awesomely good way. Women being stripped of their magic has thrown the kingdom into a terrible imbalance, it's robbed the people of their magic as a people. It's subtly done, and it really moved me. Valuing the "magic" of men and women in our world today would solve a lot of societies ills I think.
Though this part of the book is virtually devoid of any fighting, it moved a good pace, covering Eolyn and Achim's childhood and early adolescense with very little drag on the story. Though this part was rich in detail and I thought beautifully written, I do think it went on a little longer than necessary.
The middle part was my absolute favorite; I almost think Gastreich could've started the story here, making Eolyn's identity as much a mystery to us as it is to the rest of her new friends. Once Eolyn leaves her sacred forest and becomes a member of The Circle; a group of traveling performers and secret Mages and Magas, the story really picked up I thought. The characters were so rich and intriguing, I absolutely loved them. I wanted to know more about them, wanted to see more of them, in particular Mage Corey. This character was mysterious, sensual and someone I was dying to get to know better. I must say, I even liked him better than Achim as a love interest for Eolyn, though that never happens. For me this was some of the most tense, intriguing and best written parts of the book.
The transition into the last 1/3 of the book felt a bit off to me. There's very little foundation laid for a transition into a full on rebellion. Even though it's obvious a show down is coming, and that it will likely be a battle between Eolyn's forces and Achim's, the transition into this part of the book felt very abrupt to me, and the tone changed along with it. We are suddenly introduced to Eolyn's not so dead brother, and she's suddenly thrown into the middle of the rebellion as a leader. I would've liked a few more clues thrown in about her brother in particular, even if it would've given away the surprise because it was very jolting to suddenly have him alive and to me it's part of what felt very off about the story.
Akmael and Eolyn's lust/love for each other is a heat that is felt throughout the book, and towards the end is built to a fever pitch. Though Gastreich doesn't go into the details, you feel their passion. Though Akmael becomes a very different man than the boy Eolyn knew, and by different I mean dark, dangerous and often times dickish (in other words the sometimes perfect romantic hero) I still wanted them together. This is absolutely because of the way Gastreich wrote them. They were so very real to me, I cared a great deal about them; especially Eolyn. Towards the end, when the battle is done, and Akmael saves Eolyn from a fate way far worse than death, Eolyn has recovered and has (understandably) mixed feelings of love and bitterness toward Akmael. I expected a reconciliation, but to be honest Akmael had done so much to hurt Eolyn in such a deep way that I did not believe it was possible; and a part of me would've been ok with that in spite of wanting them together. The scene of reconciliation fell a bit flat for me, and I think that's because after all the sexual tension that has built up the only thing that is seen is a kiss and that felt incredibly unsatisfying.
All in all, I really liked this book, and am going to recommend that The Discriminating Fangirl read this, I think it's right up their ally.
Great job Rita, you should be bursting with pride.
"Eolyn" has strands of epic fantasy and romance that satisfied my love of romantic adventure. Having read the first few chapters of this book when it was work-shopped on tNBW, I was really excited to see how the story turned out.
The first few hundred pages focus on Eolyn as a child, her education into the now forbidden magic of her ancestors and her friendship with Achim/Akmael, the Prince of a Kingdom that kills women who possess magic.
This part of the book was charming, full of rich world building. Gastreich was able to weave recognizable bits of fairy tale, folklore and legend into the stories that surrounded Eolyn's childhood and education of her mystical inheritance. There's also a very strong thread of Feminism that runs through this book; and I mean that in an awesomely good way. Women being stripped of their magic has thrown the kingdom into a terrible imbalance, it's robbed the people of their magic as a people. It's subtly done, and it really moved me. Valuing the "magic" of men and women in our world today would solve a lot of societies ills I think.
Though this part of the book is virtually devoid of any fighting, it moved a good pace, covering Eolyn and Achim's childhood and early adolescense with very little drag on the story. Though this part was rich in detail and I thought beautifully written, I do think it went on a little longer than necessary.
The middle part was my absolute favorite; I almost think Gastreich could've started the story here, making Eolyn's identity as much a mystery to us as it is to the rest of her new friends. Once Eolyn leaves her sacred forest and becomes a member of The Circle; a group of traveling performers and secret Mages and Magas, the story really picked up I thought. The characters were so rich and intriguing, I absolutely loved them. I wanted to know more about them, wanted to see more of them, in particular Mage Corey. This character was mysterious, sensual and someone I was dying to get to know better. I must say, I even liked him better than Achim as a love interest for Eolyn, though that never happens. For me this was some of the most tense, intriguing and best written parts of the book.
The transition into the last 1/3 of the book felt a bit off to me. There's very little foundation laid for a transition into a full on rebellion. Even though it's obvious a show down is coming, and that it will likely be a battle between Eolyn's forces and Achim's, the transition into this part of the book felt very abrupt to me, and the tone changed along with it. We are suddenly introduced to Eolyn's not so dead brother, and she's suddenly thrown into the middle of the rebellion as a leader. I would've liked a few more clues thrown in about her brother in particular, even if it would've given away the surprise because it was very jolting to suddenly have him alive and to me it's part of what felt very off about the story.
Akmael and Eolyn's lust/love for each other is a heat that is felt throughout the book, and towards the end is built to a fever pitch. Though Gastreich doesn't go into the details, you feel their passion. Though Akmael becomes a very different man than the boy Eolyn knew, and by different I mean dark, dangerous and often times dickish (in other words the sometimes perfect romantic hero) I still wanted them together. This is absolutely because of the way Gastreich wrote them. They were so very real to me, I cared a great deal about them; especially Eolyn. Towards the end, when the battle is done, and Akmael saves Eolyn from a fate way far worse than death, Eolyn has recovered and has (understandably) mixed feelings of love and bitterness toward Akmael. I expected a reconciliation, but to be honest Akmael had done so much to hurt Eolyn in such a deep way that I did not believe it was possible; and a part of me would've been ok with that in spite of wanting them together. The scene of reconciliation fell a bit flat for me, and I think that's because after all the sexual tension that has built up the only thing that is seen is a kiss and that felt incredibly unsatisfying.
All in all, I really liked this book, and am going to recommend that The Discriminating Fangirl read this, I think it's right up their ally.
Great job Rita, you should be bursting with pride.
April 27, 2016
Eolyn was very young when a heart wrenching tragedy sent her deep into the woods. Being guided by the Guendes she found Ghemena. A high maga who lives in solitude after escaping her own death. It is believed that there are no maga left in the world so they must be careful they won't be discovered.
Eolyn goes out in the woods all the time and it is there that she meets a young boy. He is a mage and is trained to become a high mage. What she doesn't know is that when he grows up he will be in the position to make or break her.
When Ghemena learns who eolyn's mother was she teaches her everything that a maga needs to know. Eolyn excepts her true calling and is being honored by the Dragon to become a High Maga. With this calling also comes a difficult path. Every woman in the nation is being carefuly watched.
If anyone suspects them being a witch they will end up on the pyre. Only the men can have magical abilities. A male witch is a mage and they are all being trained by a very powerful and dark wizard who once made sure all the High Maga found their excruciating death.
Eolyn is such a sweet and pure girl but not naive. I loved those subbleties about her. She is the only High Maga alive and she is destined and determent to bring magic back into the lives of all people. Even though she has seen a lot of tragedies in her life she still remains positive and strong.
Together with her own 'army' she will face the King to get the succesful outcome they all long for. When enemies become allies and allies become possible enemies who will come out on top?
Will Eolyn be able to see through the people who are closest to her of will she end up paying for her mistakes?
Karin Rita Gastreich created a wonderful magical world that sometimes feels like a fairytale.
The main characters are so diverse in all their abilities that it is a joy to read about them. It was very easy for me to clearly picture the scenes. Even though it's sometimes hard to understand how the worlds work within this genre I had no trouble at all with understanding the story straight from the start and I found myself totally grabbed by all the magical beings that are a part of Eolyn's world.
Eolyn goes out in the woods all the time and it is there that she meets a young boy. He is a mage and is trained to become a high mage. What she doesn't know is that when he grows up he will be in the position to make or break her.
When Ghemena learns who eolyn's mother was she teaches her everything that a maga needs to know. Eolyn excepts her true calling and is being honored by the Dragon to become a High Maga. With this calling also comes a difficult path. Every woman in the nation is being carefuly watched.
If anyone suspects them being a witch they will end up on the pyre. Only the men can have magical abilities. A male witch is a mage and they are all being trained by a very powerful and dark wizard who once made sure all the High Maga found their excruciating death.
Eolyn is such a sweet and pure girl but not naive. I loved those subbleties about her. She is the only High Maga alive and she is destined and determent to bring magic back into the lives of all people. Even though she has seen a lot of tragedies in her life she still remains positive and strong.
Together with her own 'army' she will face the King to get the succesful outcome they all long for. When enemies become allies and allies become possible enemies who will come out on top?
Will Eolyn be able to see through the people who are closest to her of will she end up paying for her mistakes?
Karin Rita Gastreich created a wonderful magical world that sometimes feels like a fairytale.
The main characters are so diverse in all their abilities that it is a joy to read about them. It was very easy for me to clearly picture the scenes. Even though it's sometimes hard to understand how the worlds work within this genre I had no trouble at all with understanding the story straight from the start and I found myself totally grabbed by all the magical beings that are a part of Eolyn's world.
Read
April 25, 2013If you’re looking for a YA fantasy about a witch burning her world’s sexism at the stake, then Eolyn might be for you. The tale is alive with nature magic, beautiful prose, and sensuality.
The story begins with a fairy-tale aura, a girl in the woods chasing the spirit of her lost mother. Eolyn is born into a family of witches, “magas” as they are called, in a world shackled by prejudice. Women fear to leave their homes or try any profession, lest a competitor brands them as a witch. The ruling male mages obliterate Eolyn’s village, and she escapes into the woods.
Years pass as she attunes herself to the wild and her inner powers. She meets Achim, a teleporting mage and king-to-be. His mother was a witch, too, and he has not yet fallen prey to his tutor’s sexism. Affection builds between the two, though we know that the stars would have to cross, do the loop-de-loop, and dance the polka before a romance between these two could work.
Achim leaves her behind for good to begin his training in spells and statecraft in earnest. When Eolyn becomes a young woman, she ventures out of the forest into a world bristling with hostility, in part to find answers and justice, but mostly in search of Achim.
Eolyn can commune with animals, fly through the wild, and create illusions. What she cannot do is hide the fact that she is a maga. She is without guile. And that sort of deficiency in this land is enough to get a girl burned.
The story begins with a fairy-tale aura, a girl in the woods chasing the spirit of her lost mother. Eolyn is born into a family of witches, “magas” as they are called, in a world shackled by prejudice. Women fear to leave their homes or try any profession, lest a competitor brands them as a witch. The ruling male mages obliterate Eolyn’s village, and she escapes into the woods.
Years pass as she attunes herself to the wild and her inner powers. She meets Achim, a teleporting mage and king-to-be. His mother was a witch, too, and he has not yet fallen prey to his tutor’s sexism. Affection builds between the two, though we know that the stars would have to cross, do the loop-de-loop, and dance the polka before a romance between these two could work.
Achim leaves her behind for good to begin his training in spells and statecraft in earnest. When Eolyn becomes a young woman, she ventures out of the forest into a world bristling with hostility, in part to find answers and justice, but mostly in search of Achim.
Eolyn can commune with animals, fly through the wild, and create illusions. What she cannot do is hide the fact that she is a maga. She is without guile. And that sort of deficiency in this land is enough to get a girl burned.
August 3, 2016
This was such a well thought-out and well written book. I appreciated that greatly.
I enjoyed reading it very much.
I found myself a little disappointed at the end. Why? Not because I was surprised about what happened. Not at all. I found that I correctly predicted much about the ending. It was because I wish the author had done things a little differently.
I guess- in a book that clearly spends a great deal of time focusing on the fact that men and women are equally strong and capable- in the end I found our heroine a little bit lacking. A little bit too weak and prone to tears.
I wanted her to have "defeated the bad guy".
In the end, her purpose was essentially to help create the character of the king- to teach him about love and how to be better than his father.
I was just a little bit disappointed.
I enjoyed reading it very much.
I found myself a little disappointed at the end. Why? Not because I was surprised about what happened. Not at all. I found that I correctly predicted much about the ending. It was because I wish the author had done things a little differently.
I guess- in a book that clearly spends a great deal of time focusing on the fact that men and women are equally strong and capable- in the end I found our heroine a little bit lacking. A little bit too weak and prone to tears.
I wanted her to have "defeated the bad guy".
In the end, her purpose was essentially to help create the character of the king- to teach him about love and how to be better than his father.
I was just a little bit disappointed.
March 4, 2015
This was a thoroughly engrossing book. I mostly stopped reading fantasy when I finished all of Juliet Marillier's books, which I couldn't get enough of, but I am so glad this tale found it's way to me. It has all of the elements that I want in a fantasy: strong female characters, an enthralling storyline, and an epic striving for good over the sick and distorted status quo. And it has so much more than that: clean, image-rich writing, themes of nature-as-sacred and an underlying feminist point of view that is beautifully rendered (not the "men are bad" so-called feminist perspective, but the "woman need to be valued for their unique contributions" kind of feminist perspective).
Many thanks to the author!
Many thanks to the author!
May 27, 2014
EOLYN is an enjoyable reading experience. Karin Gastreich has created a very believable world in this book.
Set in a fantasy universe where magic is the norm, this novel gives testimony to what has happened when female magic is oppressed. I often found myself having to step back and remember that EOLYN is fiction. Loved reading this and hated to put it down.
I am the voice actor/narrator for this book in the audio book format, so it was necessary for the health of my voice and my eyes to stop every 3 to 4 hours even though I didn't want to. A clip of the audio book version can be access on YouTube.
Set in a fantasy universe where magic is the norm, this novel gives testimony to what has happened when female magic is oppressed. I often found myself having to step back and remember that EOLYN is fiction. Loved reading this and hated to put it down.
I am the voice actor/narrator for this book in the audio book format, so it was necessary for the health of my voice and my eyes to stop every 3 to 4 hours even though I didn't want to. A clip of the audio book version can be access on YouTube.
June 25, 2014
I am giving this 4 stars though it may have been more like 3.75. The story of female oppression, childhood love, and destinies intertwined sucked me right in. At times the pace felt slow but I think this had to do with how much detail was put into building the story. It isn't all that often that my heart actually aches at the way a story ends but Eolyn pulled all the right strings. If you only like stories where love comes easy then this is not the book for you. Eolyn and Akmael are deep characters and I both loved and hated them at various points. Actually I had this feeling about many of the characters because the author did a superb job of keeping you guessing who's loyalties lied where.
July 3, 2021
Very captivating novel
Well written,very descriptive allowing you to use your imagination.Ended too soon.I would recommend for anyone who likes action,magic and romance.
Well written,very descriptive allowing you to use your imagination.Ended too soon.I would recommend for anyone who likes action,magic and romance.
January 11, 2022
I received a copy via first reads, but my options are my own. The story is complex and intriguing leaving one wanting more.
January 23, 2022
Eolyn kept me guessing until the very end! Well written and truly unique, I feel, in high fantasy right now. Though I was never quite able to fully immerse myself in it, I enjoyed it and found the story compelling.
The beginning starts off sounding very fairytale-esque, whimsy and all that, but makes more sense as it goes on. My favorite part was the middle, when Eolyn is growing and learning magic.
I'm not sure if I'll read the second, because while I'd love to get more backstory and history and read more from Eolyn and her wonderful sisters, I'm not sure I want to read about more war and destruction of this beautiful world that has already been through enough.
The beginning starts off sounding very fairytale-esque, whimsy and all that, but makes more sense as it goes on. My favorite part was the middle, when Eolyn is growing and learning magic.
I'm not sure if I'll read the second, because while I'd love to get more backstory and history and read more from Eolyn and her wonderful sisters, I'm not sure I want to read about more war and destruction of this beautiful world that has already been through enough.
December 10, 2011
Fear and prejudice against female magic in a corrupt kingdom leads to an attempt to purge female magic from the kingdom and the destruction of Eolyn's entire villiage. Led by her mother's spirit, Eolyn finds the hidden dwelling of Ghemena, one of the last surviving Maga. Ghemena takes Eolyn in and teaches her the ways of old. Meanwhile, the sole heir to the throne is a mage prince. Mourning the passing of his mother, he fiddles with one of the gifts she left behind and appears at Eolyn's side. The two become secret friends but her desire to learn magic rather than return to the city with him threatens their bond. During the years they are separated, each changes in ways the other cannot imagine. How much will their friendship mean if they meet on the battlefield?
Review
Karin drops the reader right into the action as Eolyn faces the destruction of her entire villiage within the first chapter. Writers can learn the "show don't tell" writing style from her as the vivid scenes and imagry unfold. Karin had me laughing and crying (not simultaneously this time) at some of Eolyn's antics. The cheerful mood becomes solemn towards the middle of the book once Eolyn has reached adulthood and it falls upon her to make tough desicions.
The role of Fate/Destiny
As I write more reviews and talk to authors, I am learning just how controversial having Fate or Destiny in a book can be. What I like about Eolyn is that while premonitions and divination are a part of the story, there is no set end that cannot be escaped. There is a choice, a fork in the road. While there is a point of no return after Eolyn chooses her path and is trapped into the related consequences of that path, had she chosen the other, a different story would have unfolded. All of the premonitions "come true" but they are vague enough in their content to be deciphered only after the event. Technically, more than one outcome could be the fruition of a premonition depending on how the seer interpreted the words.
Romance, yes or no?
When I first read the back cover, I wondered if this was going to be a romance novel masquerading as fantasy, but my concerns were unfounded (not that I don't like a good romance novel). While Eolyn has some underlying Romeo and Juliet themes, unlike the Shakespearean play, the initial romance is based on love and friendship rather than lust at first sight. The story and relationships were given time to build and only when I was feeling impatient did I feel it moved slowly. If I had not had other obligations, I might not have come up for air.
As other relationships took the spotlight, Eolyn can stir up quite the philosophical debate. Can you love someone when they are presenting only a facade of who they really are? Are your feelings for a person negated if you love the mask but they have not shown you the person underneath? Can you love someone but hate what makes them who they are? Does faithfulness even after death equate to love?
The Ending
I won't give anything away, but I will say it is one of those endings you will either love or hate. I doubt there will be many people in the middle. In some respects it is open ended and the reader could finish the story in their own mind differently than perhaps Karin intended, BUT there is a sequel in the works so who knows where Karin will send the story next. You'll just have to read it to understand what I mean.
Me? Frankly, I'm torn between love and hate. I'm complicated like that.
5 out of 5 stars
-Eliabeth Hawthorne
Eolyn is for you if: You like romance stories that build. You adore innocent and naive characters with a defiant streak. You enjoy a book that leaves you with philosophical questions.
Eolyn is not for you if: You want a love at first sight whirlwind romance. Difficult names frustrate you; the characters and creatures in this novel have very complicated names. You want a take-no-prisoners Xena Warrior Princess lead.
Similar books in this genre
Queen's Own, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey
Review
Karin drops the reader right into the action as Eolyn faces the destruction of her entire villiage within the first chapter. Writers can learn the "show don't tell" writing style from her as the vivid scenes and imagry unfold. Karin had me laughing and crying (not simultaneously this time) at some of Eolyn's antics. The cheerful mood becomes solemn towards the middle of the book once Eolyn has reached adulthood and it falls upon her to make tough desicions.
The role of Fate/Destiny
As I write more reviews and talk to authors, I am learning just how controversial having Fate or Destiny in a book can be. What I like about Eolyn is that while premonitions and divination are a part of the story, there is no set end that cannot be escaped. There is a choice, a fork in the road. While there is a point of no return after Eolyn chooses her path and is trapped into the related consequences of that path, had she chosen the other, a different story would have unfolded. All of the premonitions "come true" but they are vague enough in their content to be deciphered only after the event. Technically, more than one outcome could be the fruition of a premonition depending on how the seer interpreted the words.
Romance, yes or no?
When I first read the back cover, I wondered if this was going to be a romance novel masquerading as fantasy, but my concerns were unfounded (not that I don't like a good romance novel). While Eolyn has some underlying Romeo and Juliet themes, unlike the Shakespearean play, the initial romance is based on love and friendship rather than lust at first sight. The story and relationships were given time to build and only when I was feeling impatient did I feel it moved slowly. If I had not had other obligations, I might not have come up for air.
As other relationships took the spotlight, Eolyn can stir up quite the philosophical debate. Can you love someone when they are presenting only a facade of who they really are? Are your feelings for a person negated if you love the mask but they have not shown you the person underneath? Can you love someone but hate what makes them who they are? Does faithfulness even after death equate to love?
The Ending
I won't give anything away, but I will say it is one of those endings you will either love or hate. I doubt there will be many people in the middle. In some respects it is open ended and the reader could finish the story in their own mind differently than perhaps Karin intended, BUT there is a sequel in the works so who knows where Karin will send the story next. You'll just have to read it to understand what I mean.
Me? Frankly, I'm torn between love and hate. I'm complicated like that.
5 out of 5 stars
-Eliabeth Hawthorne
Eolyn is for you if: You like romance stories that build. You adore innocent and naive characters with a defiant streak. You enjoy a book that leaves you with philosophical questions.
Eolyn is not for you if: You want a love at first sight whirlwind romance. Difficult names frustrate you; the characters and creatures in this novel have very complicated names. You want a take-no-prisoners Xena Warrior Princess lead.
Similar books in this genre
Queen's Own, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey
May 12, 2015
The descriptions of nature are quite wonderful. That otherworldly, magical aspect of the book brings insight to the human psyche yearning for a vision of expanded potential. Eolyn is masterfully plotted as it creates suspense the reader will find hard to resist.
September 23, 2011
Excellent read. Karin is a wonderful author and has such a fluid, beautiful way with words. Eolyn is very well written and I recommend it to fans of fantasy and high magic.
December 15, 2011
This book is beautifully written. The imagery is so intense you really feel like you are in that world. The story and characters are engaging. I highly highly recommend this book.
November 27, 2015
Very imaginative wonderful story with interesting characters when reading it you can feel the magic. Well written and absorbing.
December 6, 2017
I read this book (series) during the summer, so I may be a little hazy on the details, however, I know how I ‘felt’ in the end.
I really jumped head first into this journey of magic, women and societal perceptions. I loved reading about the beginning of Eolyn. How she came to be. Living in the forest and learning about nature, herbs, healing and Magic. The world building was wonderful. The life very descriptive. Very easy to read (except some of the names/cities throughout the series. I don’t like to have to stop and figure out the sound of a name repeatedly. I want it to flow when I read, and there were quite a few that tripped me up). Other than that, it was very easy to get caught up in. I’m telling you, after reading this book I wanted to become a Maga myself. I was greatly inspired by the ‘laws’ she lived by, and the tremendous moral compass that guided her every move. I want to learn more about plants and their healing abilities, etc. Truly inspiring.
Then there was her mysterious friendship with the boy who could travel through the ethers to get to her, and how that story unravels. And the idea of women as important forces of nature and society, and yet the fear it generates in men; and the lengths to which they will traverse to destroy it. Her secret life lived during her time with the Mage Cory and the others…well played. Gastreich has written a very believable cast of characters. Well developed, individual voices and ideals.
I was saddened by the events of her romance. But again, it was all part of the heritage that governed her actions and motives…dictating her choices, no matter how difficult. This story really had it all. It was a really great beginning to a series, and I couldn’t wait to move on to the second book.
I really jumped head first into this journey of magic, women and societal perceptions. I loved reading about the beginning of Eolyn. How she came to be. Living in the forest and learning about nature, herbs, healing and Magic. The world building was wonderful. The life very descriptive. Very easy to read (except some of the names/cities throughout the series. I don’t like to have to stop and figure out the sound of a name repeatedly. I want it to flow when I read, and there were quite a few that tripped me up). Other than that, it was very easy to get caught up in. I’m telling you, after reading this book I wanted to become a Maga myself. I was greatly inspired by the ‘laws’ she lived by, and the tremendous moral compass that guided her every move. I want to learn more about plants and their healing abilities, etc. Truly inspiring.
Then there was her mysterious friendship with the boy who could travel through the ethers to get to her, and how that story unravels. And the idea of women as important forces of nature and society, and yet the fear it generates in men; and the lengths to which they will traverse to destroy it. Her secret life lived during her time with the Mage Cory and the others…well played. Gastreich has written a very believable cast of characters. Well developed, individual voices and ideals.
I was saddened by the events of her romance. But again, it was all part of the heritage that governed her actions and motives…dictating her choices, no matter how difficult. This story really had it all. It was a really great beginning to a series, and I couldn’t wait to move on to the second book.
February 5, 2022
I received a copy of this book from a GR giveaway.
The book is told from multiple POVs with Eolyn as the main focus. It started off good. I was hooked up until Eolyn received her staff. Then everything just went downhill. Eolyn remains a naive, country bumpkin for the rest of the book. There's no character growth at all. The story stopped making sense to me. The staff that Eolyn carries was "crafted for war" according to her mentor. There is a magic sword that calls to her. Yet Eolyn wants nothing to do with war. She knows nothing about it and doesn't know how to or wants to use magic to harm others. This is because of who her mentor is. The poor girl just wants to live her life in peace. People were refusing to listen to each other. Things were happening but I felt we never truly understood anyone or anything about the story and characters. Overall the story felt rushed.
The writing is great, however, I felt empty after finishing this book. I will not be continuing with this series.
The book is told from multiple POVs with Eolyn as the main focus. It started off good. I was hooked up until Eolyn received her staff. Then everything just went downhill. Eolyn remains a naive, country bumpkin for the rest of the book. There's no character growth at all. The story stopped making sense to me. The staff that Eolyn carries was "crafted for war" according to her mentor. There is a magic sword that calls to her. Yet Eolyn wants nothing to do with war. She knows nothing about it and doesn't know how to or wants to use magic to harm others. This is because of who her mentor is. The poor girl just wants to live her life in peace. People were refusing to listen to each other. Things were happening but I felt we never truly understood anyone or anything about the story and characters. Overall the story felt rushed.
The writing is great, however, I felt empty after finishing this book. I will not be continuing with this series.
April 21, 2018
I loved this book. This was the first in a long time that has kept me up through the night to finish it. Not since Kristian Britain's "Green Rider" have I enjoyed a book and a heroine as much as I loved Eolyn. I read this book in less than a day, and now this it's over my heart is soaring.
I am writing this review because of how well-written and engaging the characters were and the story was. We need more female writers (and protagonists) like this in the fantasy realm. HOWEVER...I almost didn't write this review or give it five stars because my heart is aching for the ending. I became so invested in Eolyn's connection with Akmael that I just needed them to be together. I yearned for them and cried, actually cried, at his wedding and cried when he came to see Eolyn afterwards. It killed me. But, in reality, that's the sign of a truly amazing story and a talented writer. I can't wait to read the rest of Gastreich's writing.
I am writing this review because of how well-written and engaging the characters were and the story was. We need more female writers (and protagonists) like this in the fantasy realm. HOWEVER...I almost didn't write this review or give it five stars because my heart is aching for the ending. I became so invested in Eolyn's connection with Akmael that I just needed them to be together. I yearned for them and cried, actually cried, at his wedding and cried when he came to see Eolyn afterwards. It killed me. But, in reality, that's the sign of a truly amazing story and a talented writer. I can't wait to read the rest of Gastreich's writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2023
I won this in a giveaway and just picked it up and I was blown away by how good this book was! I love fantasy as a genre and this was a great start to a series. It didn't feel like an exposition dump, which is a problem I have found that plagues many first books in epic fantasy series. I can't wait to continue this series!
Thanks again to K.R. Gastreich for running the giveaway!
Thanks again to K.R. Gastreich for running the giveaway!
February 26, 2024
Adventure, Magic and Mayhem
Eolyn as a little girl studies plants with her mother. Her mother calls it Practical Magic. They hear horses coming. They destroy her village and all the people. Her brother saves.her but never returns. Ellyn runs and her adventure begins.
Eolyn as a little girl studies plants with her mother. Her mother calls it Practical Magic. They hear horses coming. They destroy her village and all the people. Her brother saves.her but never returns. Ellyn runs and her adventure begins.
May 26, 2017
Interesting plot and characters. Liked the book a lot.
March 27, 2018
I liķed it right up until the end. Really annoyed me. That said the characters are very likeable, if not believable. Lots of angst and drama but it's not bad.
October 16, 2018
3.5 stars. Pretty good. Might read a sequel
May 22, 2022
DNF 41%
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