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Eldala
Kieran's blood boils every time he hears about the abuse handed down by Teleria's nobility. But years of hiding in his father's smithy have taught him to avoid trouble. Content with being a blacksmith, the only disruptions in his well-ordered life are his disturbing dreams. It isn't until his twentieth birthday, when he receives a mysterious letter and sword from King Arathor - the man who claims to be his real father - that he wonders if his nightmares have become reality. If he believes Arathor, he will have a chance to end a twenty-year curse over Teleria, and free the people from King Rahnak's oppression. But it could also mean giving up his quest to find the mysterious woman with whom he shares an intimate heart connection.
- GenresFantasy
412 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2007
15 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Gregory
3 books11 followersI’ve been making up stories since I could hold a pencil. Four years of college, writing in essay test booklets and spewing out what some professor wanted to hear, killed my love of writing. In 2005, while researching a home school writing program for my kids, I re-discovered my desire to write and ended up joining NaNoWriMo.
Seventeen days later, I had the beginnings of a fantasy novel. After I made the “mistake” of telling my relatives and friends I was writing, I decided to self-publish Eldala in 2007 through Lulu.com. Since then, the stories have poured out of me like an Arizona flashflood during monsoon season.
I have a passion for writing medieval fantasy fiction, and my stories always have romance. I tried my hand at contemporary romance, but discovered I prefer making up my facts. Besides writing, I love to read historical and contemporary romance. My favorite authors are Kristie Cook, Teresa Medeiros, Mary Connealy, and Kaki Warner. I’m also a prolific blogger and spend too much time on Facebook.
I have three wonderful children, and have been married to the most encouraging man on the planet for twenty-four years. They’re my biggest fans and without them, I wouldn’t have written at all. We recently moved from the Phoenix metro area to Butte, MT. Talk about change. I’m hoping the fresh air and great outdoors will inspire me to finish Eldala’s sequel.
Seventeen days later, I had the beginnings of a fantasy novel. After I made the “mistake” of telling my relatives and friends I was writing, I decided to self-publish Eldala in 2007 through Lulu.com. Since then, the stories have poured out of me like an Arizona flashflood during monsoon season.
I have a passion for writing medieval fantasy fiction, and my stories always have romance. I tried my hand at contemporary romance, but discovered I prefer making up my facts. Besides writing, I love to read historical and contemporary romance. My favorite authors are Kristie Cook, Teresa Medeiros, Mary Connealy, and Kaki Warner. I’m also a prolific blogger and spend too much time on Facebook.
I have three wonderful children, and have been married to the most encouraging man on the planet for twenty-four years. They’re my biggest fans and without them, I wouldn’t have written at all. We recently moved from the Phoenix metro area to Butte, MT. Talk about change. I’m hoping the fresh air and great outdoors will inspire me to finish Eldala’s sequel.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 8, 2010
“You now have a choice, and it will take great courage to choose the right. From this moment on, you will be walking the path between who you are now and who you were born to be. All I am asking you to do is let yourself make the journey….” – Arathor’s letter to Kieran, Eldala
In Eldala by Michelle Gregory, Kieran, the orphaned heir to the throne of Teleria discovers the truth of his origins in a letter from his father King Arathor. When Kieran discovers the truth behind his identity, he goes on a quest to recapture his father's kingdom, and find the childhood friend he lost. Little does he know that she is key to unlocking his destiny.
As a baby, Kieran becomes the adoptive son of a blacksmith. His father, King Arathor asks the man to shelter the child from the kingdom’s enemies. On his twentieth birthday, Kieran discovers his unexpected heritage. Although he angrily rejects the truth at first, after Kale produces Arathor’s sword, Kieran is hard-pressed to obstinately deny the past. He has seen the long-hidden weapon in his dreams. Another image from the past also haunts him; the memory of a dark-eyed friend, Jessara, who was lost to raiders in the forest during their childhood. Prompted by memories of her loss, Kieran assists a young woman against a brutal soldier and must flee to avoid the authorities. He reluctantly seeks out Arathor, with his mischievous foster cousin as a companion. Along their journey, Kieran discovers the dangers of the world outside his village. When a beast attacks his cousin in a cave where the young men have sought shelter, Kieran soon learns that their rescuer is his father Arathor. It is Keiran’s destiny to restore Telaria to its former glory, and unite its warring factions under a king’s rule. His quest may also allow him to discover Jessara’s fate and rescue her. But before he can do that, Arathor’s enemies capture him.
Eldala is as much Jessara’s story as it is Kieran’s. Although she was prepared for marriage with her relative Stefan from childhood, Jessara’s chance meeting with Kieran changed her. It is a mysterious, yet deep connection that has persisted despite the time and distance between them. Now, Jessara lives a miserable existence as a slave in the palace of the usurper Rahnak, whose lust frightens her. His queen Ciara is especially dangerous and volatile. When a wounded stranger arrives at the palace, seemingly destined for marriage with Ciara’s daughter, Jessara nurses him back to health. She also feels a powerful pull toward him, and recognizes it is Kieran. The pair has greater worries than an awkward reunion. Escape from Rahnak and Ciara’s clutches seems near impossible, and unless Jessara and Kieran can put aside their hesitancy and suspicions, their future and that of the Telarian people seems bleak.
As a fan of very limited areas in genre fiction, I surprisingly enjoyed exploring the fantasy world Ms. Gregory has created in Eldala. She accomplishes it by keeping the reader focused on the diverse cast of characters, especially the lovers. It helps that the chemistry between Jessara and Kieran is palpable and intense. Jessara is admirable for her unfailing courage and love for Kieran, despite the intervening years. The emotional journey that Kieran undertakes, in which he learns to be a fighter and a leader of many people, is inspiring – the coming-of-age for a young man who discovers he can be more that he ever anticipated. The characterization is very good; Kieran’s pain, suffering, confusion and joy laid bare on the pages of Ms. Gregory’s work allows the reader to intimately know his hopes and fears. I thoroughly enjoyed Kieran and Jessara’s journey, and hope to read more from Ms. Gregory in the future.
In Eldala by Michelle Gregory, Kieran, the orphaned heir to the throne of Teleria discovers the truth of his origins in a letter from his father King Arathor. When Kieran discovers the truth behind his identity, he goes on a quest to recapture his father's kingdom, and find the childhood friend he lost. Little does he know that she is key to unlocking his destiny.
As a baby, Kieran becomes the adoptive son of a blacksmith. His father, King Arathor asks the man to shelter the child from the kingdom’s enemies. On his twentieth birthday, Kieran discovers his unexpected heritage. Although he angrily rejects the truth at first, after Kale produces Arathor’s sword, Kieran is hard-pressed to obstinately deny the past. He has seen the long-hidden weapon in his dreams. Another image from the past also haunts him; the memory of a dark-eyed friend, Jessara, who was lost to raiders in the forest during their childhood. Prompted by memories of her loss, Kieran assists a young woman against a brutal soldier and must flee to avoid the authorities. He reluctantly seeks out Arathor, with his mischievous foster cousin as a companion. Along their journey, Kieran discovers the dangers of the world outside his village. When a beast attacks his cousin in a cave where the young men have sought shelter, Kieran soon learns that their rescuer is his father Arathor. It is Keiran’s destiny to restore Telaria to its former glory, and unite its warring factions under a king’s rule. His quest may also allow him to discover Jessara’s fate and rescue her. But before he can do that, Arathor’s enemies capture him.
Eldala is as much Jessara’s story as it is Kieran’s. Although she was prepared for marriage with her relative Stefan from childhood, Jessara’s chance meeting with Kieran changed her. It is a mysterious, yet deep connection that has persisted despite the time and distance between them. Now, Jessara lives a miserable existence as a slave in the palace of the usurper Rahnak, whose lust frightens her. His queen Ciara is especially dangerous and volatile. When a wounded stranger arrives at the palace, seemingly destined for marriage with Ciara’s daughter, Jessara nurses him back to health. She also feels a powerful pull toward him, and recognizes it is Kieran. The pair has greater worries than an awkward reunion. Escape from Rahnak and Ciara’s clutches seems near impossible, and unless Jessara and Kieran can put aside their hesitancy and suspicions, their future and that of the Telarian people seems bleak.
As a fan of very limited areas in genre fiction, I surprisingly enjoyed exploring the fantasy world Ms. Gregory has created in Eldala. She accomplishes it by keeping the reader focused on the diverse cast of characters, especially the lovers. It helps that the chemistry between Jessara and Kieran is palpable and intense. Jessara is admirable for her unfailing courage and love for Kieran, despite the intervening years. The emotional journey that Kieran undertakes, in which he learns to be a fighter and a leader of many people, is inspiring – the coming-of-age for a young man who discovers he can be more that he ever anticipated. The characterization is very good; Kieran’s pain, suffering, confusion and joy laid bare on the pages of Ms. Gregory’s work allows the reader to intimately know his hopes and fears. I thoroughly enjoyed Kieran and Jessara’s journey, and hope to read more from Ms. Gregory in the future.
November 18, 2010
A sweeping story of family, friendship, love and war, Eldala takes you to another time and place that grabs your imagination and pulls you in. Kieran and Jessa, the two main characters, are strong, courageous and heroic, yet real and not too perfect. Their hearts are always in the right place and you can't help but cheer for them. The rest of the cast also shine. The point-of-view switches, mostly between Kieran and Jessa, but also with other characters every now and then. This could be confusing, but Michelle does it in such a way that you're glad to learn that part of the story and learn more about that particular character. Michelle has created a beautiful, detailed world that you'll enjoy getting lost in.
July 30, 2017
It's been a long time since I've read high fantasy, but Eldala makes me want to read more. This story has some great sword-fighting, a few attacks by mythical creatures, an evil sorceress who holds the kingdom of Teleria under a curse --- but what makes Eldala really stand out from other fantasies with similar elements is the special "magic" called Eldala, a heart-bond that begins when two young friends exchange gifts and start to "grow together in mind and heart." But I can't say too much about this heart-bond without spoilers!
Kieran, the main character, starts off with a "let me play it safe" attitude, and his journey to becoming a true, self-sacrificing hero is a bumpy one that you can't help cheering him along.
But primarily Eldala is a love story.
On page two, Keiran muses that "there was only one woman for him. He just had to find her again." I couldn't resist those two simple sentences! I am a sucker for a quest to recover a lost love! Add into this mix the idea of Eldala, a heart-bond, and I was hooked.
The idea of a special magic being associated with love was very intriguing to me, and beautifully executed in this book. So many of us have a special song that we share with our loved ones, but Eldala puts a really neat twist on this idea of a love song. Many of us have experienced dreams of love, or our loved one, but Eldala involves dreams in a magical way.
There is another magical element in the story, Keldar stones, that also fascinated me. The idea of a magic talisman or amulet certainly isn't a new one, but there's something special these stones do that is so cool!
And the magic that Kieran pulls off in the butterfly scene just took my breath away! Oh my gosh soooooo romantic! And romantic in the very best way. Not sappy.
I can't help myself I also have to gush over the beautiful but heart-breaking scene where Jessa girds Kieran for battle.
The only problem I had with this book is that Kieran doesn't find Jessa until about a third of way through - there's still lots of action and world-building but the story doesn't really take off until he finds her (okay sort of a small spoiler: ). And then the roller coaster really begins. There are obstacles at every turn. But this is where all the careful world-building/plot-building pays off because they are believable obstacles. Not the least of which are some of the genuine insecurities and misunderstandings that complicate even true love - I liked these realistic touches to Kieran's and Jessa's relationship.
Kieran, the main character, starts off with a "let me play it safe" attitude, and his journey to becoming a true, self-sacrificing hero is a bumpy one that you can't help cheering him along.
But primarily Eldala is a love story.
On page two, Keiran muses that "there was only one woman for him. He just had to find her again." I couldn't resist those two simple sentences! I am a sucker for a quest to recover a lost love! Add into this mix the idea of Eldala, a heart-bond, and I was hooked.
The idea of a special magic being associated with love was very intriguing to me, and beautifully executed in this book. So many of us have a special song that we share with our loved ones, but Eldala puts a really neat twist on this idea of a love song. Many of us have experienced dreams of love, or our loved one, but Eldala involves dreams in a magical way.
There is another magical element in the story, Keldar stones, that also fascinated me. The idea of a magic talisman or amulet certainly isn't a new one, but there's something special these stones do that is so cool!
And the magic that Kieran pulls off in the butterfly scene just took my breath away! Oh my gosh soooooo romantic! And romantic in the very best way. Not sappy.
I can't help myself I also have to gush over the beautiful but heart-breaking scene where Jessa girds Kieran for battle.
The only problem I had with this book is that Kieran doesn't find Jessa until about a third of way through - there's still lots of action and world-building but the story doesn't really take off until he finds her (okay sort of a small spoiler: ). And then the roller coaster really begins. There are obstacles at every turn. But this is where all the careful world-building/plot-building pays off because they are believable obstacles. Not the least of which are some of the genuine insecurities and misunderstandings that complicate even true love - I liked these realistic touches to Kieran's and Jessa's relationship.
May 9, 2011
If you're looking for a book to whisk you into another world - one that will make you forget your cares & concentrate soley on the characters the book creates, Eldala is for you. It is a lovely book - one I could not put down. I read the iBook version in a day. The main character, Keiran, is strong but human in his weakness - very relatable & very well described.
The tale is well thought out & each of the many characters has their important place. I loved Keiran's ability to control the elements, to heal, etc (don't want to reveal too much). The stones were something new & unique to what I've read & I enjoyed the bond it created between the holders immensely. I liked the fact that the lovers didn't immediately fall in love. Nicely written - keeps the readers on the edge of their seats. I could see this making a very nice middle earth type film. Beautifully described, exciting action scenes, tasteful lusty moments.
There were a few things I thought could strengthen Eldala: the iBook repeated a few paragraphs between pages (I'm sure this is iBooks fault & not the author's). One paragraph stated a horse whickered - I'm not sure what that is - I'm thinking the author meant nickered. As with many first books, there were quite a few passive sentences throughout the pages that could have strengthened the book as a whole had they been caught & modified.
Please don't let these very minor concerns sway you from reading Eldala. It is an exciting, romantic, beautiful read & I look forward to more works from this budding author.
- Ashley Knight, author of Fins & Fathom
The tale is well thought out & each of the many characters has their important place. I loved Keiran's ability to control the elements, to heal, etc (don't want to reveal too much). The stones were something new & unique to what I've read & I enjoyed the bond it created between the holders immensely. I liked the fact that the lovers didn't immediately fall in love. Nicely written - keeps the readers on the edge of their seats. I could see this making a very nice middle earth type film. Beautifully described, exciting action scenes, tasteful lusty moments.
There were a few things I thought could strengthen Eldala: the iBook repeated a few paragraphs between pages (I'm sure this is iBooks fault & not the author's). One paragraph stated a horse whickered - I'm not sure what that is - I'm thinking the author meant nickered. As with many first books, there were quite a few passive sentences throughout the pages that could have strengthened the book as a whole had they been caught & modified.
Please don't let these very minor concerns sway you from reading Eldala. It is an exciting, romantic, beautiful read & I look forward to more works from this budding author.
- Ashley Knight, author of Fins & Fathom
August 13, 2012
Eldala has everything you could wish for in a fantasy novel. Magic, curses, evil kings and queens, and a terrific love story. Kieran loves his parents and his life as a blacksmith. But everything isn't as it seems. He must accept his destiny as prince and also search out the childhood friend who holds his heart. War, jealousy and fear all play a role as the young king and his love try to free their people from a decades old curse.
Michele Gregory has created a fairy tale like story. You won't be disappointed as you meet her characters as young people and then see them grow as the story progresses. You'll put this one on your keeper shelf.
Michele Gregory has created a fairy tale like story. You won't be disappointed as you meet her characters as young people and then see them grow as the story progresses. You'll put this one on your keeper shelf.
May 19, 2013
I'd love this even if it wasn't by my writing buddy. Great 'story world'.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews