Storm Tree

by E.D.E. Bell

Because of her connection to the dragons. Mage Xeleanor Du’Tam is sought after by the hyperwealthy Lunests. Xelle has made her way to Grand Tower, seeking shelter, but not to hide. Storm Tree continues this bard’s tale of magic and friendship amidst the spires and shadows of the seven towers of Alyssia.

The third book in the fantasy world of Alyssia, featuring plant magic, friendship, and dragons.

“Beautiful lyrical language that flows with the tongue. I love the worldbuilding and I keep cheering for Xelle. Bring down the fire, mage! You will fly with dragons!” — Joyce Chng, author of Fire Heart

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2024

About the author

E.D.E. Bell (she/her or e/em) is a writer, global editor, and pro-expression organizer in Ferndale, Michigan. Eir works are quiet and queer and often explore conceptions of identity and community, including themes of friendship, family, and connection. You can follow Emily's adventures at edebell.com.

Reviews

[Minerva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was a proofreader for this book.

Overall I really enjoyed Stormtree. It’s the third book in the Alyssia series, and I appreciated that it has a short summary of what happened before and then threw the reader right back into the story. At this point the characters feel like longtime friends and I was curious how they were doing. On that point it delivered nicely, and especially the first half of the book had that sparkling Alyssia atmosphere, with lots of new things to discover in the worldbuilding. This is very much a slice-of-life type of story, but Xelle’s life is exciting again after the long wait she experienced in the previous book.

Nearer to the end, I sometimes felt the story slowed down a bit because Xelle spent quite some time explaining things to people that the readers already knew, and while it was interesting to see how she told those facts to whom exactly, it ended up taking me a little out of the flow. Still, I look forward to learning where eir journey will take em (and the dragons) next.

[Clara Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit, I loved Inkbloom, the second book in this series, a little more. That’s mostly on me, for possibly not wanting any series to stretch past a trilogy (but I’ll definitely read however many more E.D.E. Bell chooses to write!). Readers who prioritize the in depth worldbuilding possible when each volume focuses on a new location will appreciate all the time Xelle spends learning about a new tower, the mages there, and how they fit into the larger society and magical system. For those (like me!) who want more time casually hanging out with Xelle, there are plenty of cozy moments and budding friendships, including “water toasts” and a kiss that’s compared to mint cocoa (high praise indeed!). Finally, for those who most enjoy the society of dragon, there are new developments galore in the second half of this book!