Elgiva, a young elf banished from Elvendom, must seek shelter among the Saxons as her only hope of surviving the coming winter.
Godwin, a Briton enslaved by the Saxons, is a man ignorant of his own inheritance and the secret of power he possesses.
A mysterious enemy, who will stop at nothing to wield absolute power over Elvendom, is about to make his move.
When destiny throws Elgiva and Godwin together, they embark upon the quest for the legendary Lorestone, the only thing that can save Elvendom from the evil that threatens to destroy it.
There is help to be found along the way from a petulant pony and a timid elf boy but, as the strength of their adversary grows, can Elgiva’s friends help her to find the Lorestone before it falls into the wrong hands?
Born in Stafford in the UK, Carol was raised in Crewe, Cheshire, which she thinks of as her home town. Interested in reading and writing at an early age, Carol pursued her passions at Nottingham University and was awarded an honours degree in English Language and Literature. However, fated to lose everything and start again several times, it is only in later life that she has realised her dream of becoming a published author. Writing fiction and non-fiction and now a contracted author with Next Chapter, she lives in the Cambridgeshire countryside with her cockatiel Sparky and uses words to weave tales like tapestries that she hopes will adorn the walls of your imagination. Her watchword is perseverance.
A young elf, Elgiva, is expelled from Elvendom for only doing what she thought was right. Taking the advice of an ancient tree, she uses the magic she was told is stored in her amulet to alter her appearance. She takes refuge with the Saxons and befriends Godwin, a Briton slave with his own destiny. There’s a new enemy who wants to take over all of Elvendom and it’s up to Elgiva and Godwin to stop the evil which threatens their world. They have more allies and resources than they ever thought, but the road to victory is never easy. THE EXILE OF ELINDEL is a classic hero’s journey, done right. Written with humor and grace, starring complex and flawed characters, THE EXILE OF ELINDEL will enchant you from start to finish. One of my favorite characters was the irascible horse, Gramalkin, who assisted them in their quest. THE EXILE OF ELINDEL contains many twists and turns, making for a satisfying fantasy tale!
Browne is a wonderful story-teller and her complex characters, mythologies and historical elements are well-developed and thought out. If you like unique quest-based magic and fantasy adventures you won't be disappointed. A page-turner from the opening chapter, I wanted to read it in one sitting but alas, life got in the way. (I kept imagining the characters were patiently waiting for me to return, it's THAT kind of book!) I loved the main character Elgiva's determination and connection to nature. You could really feel the author poured her soul into this character. I also loved the sassy pony, Grimalkin. :) This honestly ranks at the top of my list of books I've thoroughly enjoyed and would read again.
I love this book. It is filled with such creativity and imagination. There are many surprises and each surprise comes with a new and exciting journey. This book is a classic battle of Good vs. Evil that is filled with suspense.
The main character has a unique relationship with animals and nature. I love that Ms.Browne threw that aspect into the story. I think too many of us have lost our connection with nature.
Ms.Browne writes in a style that flows naturally. The dialogue and the plot was written at a fitting pace. Nothing was rushed or forced. The story unfolded the way organically felt it should.
This is the first story I have ever read by Carol Browne and I was charmed!
The way she captured a character’s inner essence via her words, mystical and enchanting eloquent elements, fluid flow of the fable, supple suspense, with eccentric and well-developed characters.
Here is just a taste of her tale:
“CHAPTER ONE Britain— 500 CE It was hard to talk to trees. They were deep and dark within themselves and spent most of their time asleep. Elgiva touched the rough bark with her fingers, lightly at first. Her desire to act reverently was great, but her need for comfort was stronger. Pressing her body against the tree, she wrapped her arms around it. “Forest-Lord, I need your help!” she begged in a quavering voice. “My name’s Elgiva. My people are . . . my people were the Eldrakin. I need your guidance . . . please . . . if you could . . . if you would . . . ” She couldn’t continue, and for a time, her slender frame was racked with sobbing, while the oak leaves danced above her head, their shadows capering on the grass, carefree as summer butterflies. “Your arms are warm, little elf, but they need to be much longer if you wish to embrace me.” Elgiva sniffed back her tears and listened, but the tree’s voice could be felt, rather than heard. It flowed like dark waters under the earth. “You’ve seen many things in your life,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with her ragged sleeve. “Would you be willing to give advice to an elf who has lost all hope of home?” “I would,” he replied, “for the elves are my friends. I am Derryth, and I do not forget those who pay me respect. I recall those others . . . it seems but yesterday. Druids, they called themselves. Now they are gone. All gone forever. All of them slain.” Elgiva tried to be patient. Time had no meaning for Derryth, and he would never understand the need for haste that governed the lives of shorter-lived creatures. “Yes, all slain,” he went on sadly. “Then came others from across the grey sea. Bricks and stones and wars. They were always building, but I cared nothing for their works. And now, these Saxons . . . tree-slayers. I feel the anguish of the forests.” “Yes, the wilthkin. They’re cruel and selfish.” “But elves . . . I like. Speak, child.” Carol Browne. The Exile of Elindel (Kindle Locations 14-31). Burning Willow Press.
Darling Reader, I never provide spoilers in any of my reviews – I choose to allow you to discover the wonder and joy of each story I review on your own. I hold too much respect for you Beautiful Bookworm, as I am a voracious reader myself!
If you like to be transported to a Fantastical Fantasy Land where humans and creatures cooperate and go on an Incredible Journey – then this is the chronicle for you!
I am an independent ARC reader/reviewer/blogger and I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher, and I voluntarily reviewed it.
Date Published: October 8th, 2017 Format: e-book (kindle), Prime paperback Genre: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Epic Fantasy Available at: Amazon.com
The Exile of Elindel is a fantasy tale beginning with banished elf Elgiva. She finds a Saxon village and takes refuge there until an attack leaves her and Godwin (a Briton and slave of the Saxon village) fighting to get away from their attackers. The story follows them and the friends they meet along the way as Elgiva and Godwin find out about where they came from and about their pasts.
This story is full of magic and wonder. It is beautifully told and very well written. It was a bit slow for me in the middle, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
This is an excellent fantasy story that reminds me of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon because of the mixture of history and myth. The characters have depth and the story world feels almost like a real place that you could visit. Highly recommend!
The Exile of Elindel starts off with a teenaged elf who is exiled from her people and must live with humans to survive. This is a promising start that I thought would lead to a kind of "Dances with Wolves" story in the fantasy genre. Unfortunately, standard fantasy troupes (which involve inheritance and destiny) soon assert themselves, and the story becomes rather ordinary. The book's saving grace is that it is rather well written; the author certainly knows her craft, and she creates interesting characters who you'll want to read about to the end. Still, the story's not without its hiccups.