The Erl King's Children

by Jordan Leah Hunter

She is not about to be a pawn in anyone’s game—not even the gods. Not even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice . . .

Lyllith, the last of the royal line of Érainn, has become the rightful war-prize of Riv Orrsa, her kingdom’s ruthless conqueror. The choice she faces—living as wife to the man who raped her land who murdered her father, or death—is no choice at all. Imprisoned in a lonely tower on a deserted headland, she waits for death as though waiting for an old friend.

But when a strange young boy appears in her barren cell one night, Lyllith is offered the only thing still worth living for: a chance of revenge. Accepting that chance plunges her in the middle of a contest thousands of years in the making, for the young boy is not what he seems, her new freedom is illusory, and she is the unwitting heir to an ancient bloody legacy with the power to destroy the World.

A brand-new epic fantasy novel by the author of The Alecto Initiative.

Genres: Fantasy

439 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2013

About the author

Jordan Leah Hunter is a writer, artist and model living in Northern California. Descended from Irish High-Kings, Vikings and Native Americans, she brings all the passion of her turbulent ancestry to her work. A true devotee of Nature, she can be found outdoors at all hours and in all weathers, and when she suffers to have a roof over her head, it is usually to sit by her fire and read or play one of several instruments.

Reviews

[Charles Hash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterfully written tale of high fantasy and drama with a gritty, surreal trip through the looking glass, into another world and back again. Our world needs more fairy tales for adults like this, which is a fluid combination of historical authenticity and military tactics, blended into a dream within a dream.

[Camilla Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading this, it truly felt as if the magic reached out of the book and engulfed me. I loved the descriptions of the Erl kingdom, enchanting as it is to even the characters. These are my initial thoughts, even a while after reading it. It is a magical tale spun around a strong heroine, whom we follow through a turbulent time.

The characters in general are able to gain your sympathy or spite, growing on you as you go. The descriptions are able to make you grasp the essence of the characters without throwing too many words at you, making it more fluent and easier to read. The whole book is in general written to seem alive and colourful, making you bond more with the descriptions.

The plot is intriguing and you are with them from the start, rooting and throwing imaginary tomatoes/daggers at the bad guys. As the plot escalates, the epicness of the tale emerges, bringing with it a wide range of myths and inhabitants that are surrounded by mystery. It gives thought to further worldbuilding, which is not written.

Here’s a thing or two that might put you off:

1) Sex-scenes. Personally, I think that they are done tastefully and somehow play a part in the tale where they are put. It is not just for the sake of the sex or the relationships. However, they are in detail, so if you are not too fond of that, you better skip ahead in the book meanwhile.

2) Combat. Now, this is somewhat a spoiler, so I’m going to go ahead and mark it in. I like hero-based combat or groups with people/leaders I have a relation to. However, this one has more tactical combat, as if you are seeing it from above and planning, so therefore I lost a bit interest. However, it is still done so you grasp the essence of what is happening, even if you find it off-putting.

All in all, I love the overall theme I caught from the book balance and I found it to be a good book. It sucked me in, even if I was a bit busy those days while reading it, but I was not disappointed. It is a romantic notion of an epic tale, giving you the feel of “medieval” somehow – the quests, prophecies, supernatural. It is a great mix which gave a satisfying end.

Thanks to the author and Owen for letting me be a part of the pre-release reviewers! It was a thrill :)

[Cynthia Spada · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Erl King's Children tells the story of Lyllith, the stunning and bold daughter of a fallen king who gradually transforms into a fierce woman warrior. As intimate as it is epic, this sensual book details her entanglement with the men who have raped and conquered her land and the denizens of the supernatural realm that adumbrates it. The author writes lyrically of the harsh world he chronicles, as here when describing the ethereal music of a bard at a fairyland feast: "The music lifted Lyllith like a bird on the wind; this must be, she thought, the music that dragons heard as they played their strong-winged games on the turbulent air." With its original and uncompromising tale, The Erl King's Children should appeal to fans of George R. R. Martin and to any readers who enjoy strong female characters.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not a favorite read for me. Don't know if it was all the background information/filler that the author was supplying or the mythological connations that were prevelant throughout the book.