Rooted

by Elle Boyer

Elura was discovered in the forest, at a young age with nothing but her name and a sprig of Ivy that seemed to whisper to her. She never felt as though she belonged in the human town she grew up in. Not knowing her true nature, Elura kept her ability a secret from everyone but her adoptive family that found her and raised her as their own.
When a letter seemingly delivered on the wind arrives under her apartment door, she is given directions, leading her to the forest she was found in.Curiosity and a foreign sense of urgency, rushes Elura through the trees and back to her roots.At the Grenivere Sky Temple, she is acquainted with Celestials, Elementals, and Inborns. The world of Velgon introduces Elura to new friends, peers, romance and danger.

Genres: Fantasy

499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2024

Reviews

[Kelsey Yongue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because the author on tiktok was so thankful for every person who read it. It is available on Kindle Unlimited so I thought I'd give it a go and support a small author!

I'm SO glad I did. I could not put it down. The characters were well fleshed out and likable. The world building was slow and in pace with the story, which made it easy to understand.

I haven't read fantasy in a while as I was in a bit of a slump, and this book got me over that hump.

I can't wait to read the next one.

[Devon King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel by author Elle Boyer is setting the bar high for her future novels. The world building is amazing. The author has done a fantastic job at creating a unique world and magic system. It’s easy to fall into the world of Velgon when you pick up the book. The story is told from many different perspectives, which I love and adds depth to the story. I was invested in the characters and there were many twists to keep you on your toes. This book definitely set a good foundation for more to come. Excited to see what happens in Velgon next!

[Kailey Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh where do I begin-

The absolute lore we get in here. Stunning world building, truly.I dreamt of it because of how detailed she was without any nonsense. The character development, the uncertainty of what is gonna happen next. When the spicy hit it was absolutely addictive.

Multiple perspectives were absolutely needed- it helped you really understand what was going on, how there were being hidden, the true intentions.

I need Quincy asap- his details are stunning.

10/10, highly reccomend if you like extremely plot driven foresty fantasy! Absolutely gold.

[Jacob Montanez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rooted by Elle Boyer is an intriguing portal fantasy debut that lays the groundwork for a story of epic scale told through the eyes of its main protagonists, Elura and her sister Anarhi. Raised among humans, they learn their heritage is something different than they believed when they discover a portal to the realm they come from. Thrust into a world of elements and elementals, they experience trials that test them each to their fullest while learning to understand their personal history and their family better. A festering evil has taken root among the realms, creating destabilizing forces among old allies and friends. The sisters confront but a small portion of the danger that threatens while dealing with love, loss, death, and grief. Colorful characters and a few lusty romps punctuate the dire stakes with moments of levity and hope. Both young women accept their responsibilities and I can't wait to see where the next book takes them!

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! So whimsical! Quincy&Elura 💘 The magic in this book was so cool. The world felt rich and vividly imagined, pulling me in from the very first page. If you love 🌿 Fantasy ✨ Slow-burn romance 🗡️ Tension-filled adventures 📖 & Supporting indie authors,
this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

[Renea Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would rate this 7 stars if I could. I was absolutely blown away with how amazing this book was. Let me dive a little deeper into WHY I thought this book was so amazing and might just be one of my top reads of the whole year.

Characters- I absolutely LOVED Elura’s character development throughout her journey. It truly felt like as she learned new things about Velgon, we as the readers were learning too. That really made reading this a more immersive experience for me. I loved the diverse group of supporting characters and their different dynamics amongst the group, it almost felt like I was also apart of their little friend group/ family as well.

Plot- I love when a novel is not only written well, but the plot is also comprehensible and cohesive throughout the entirety of the story. Not once did I feel like the plot was diverging from its main course, of course there were side plots too but each and every one of them helped build the main plot up to its climax. There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming, and I also felt that the ending was satisfying but also really sad. The way that things ended only make me even more excited to read book 2. Lastly, I fell in love with the magic system and the multiple different domains that have their own different kinds of magic and abilities. The whole concept is unique, and I can’t wait to see where the story continues!

Romance- I love a good slow burn. I never felt like the romance was rushed, nor did I expect it until the very first time I noticed the tension between the characters. I want this review to be spoiler free so I won’t disclose the character names here, but the main relationship/ romance partners had me blushing at almost every scene with those two.

Overall I definitely loved this book far more than anything I have read so far this year. It was unique, the pacing was perfect, I didn’t feel bored at any point during my read through, and I genuinely lost myself within the pages. Which is something that hasn’t happened in a while. I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to see what’s next.

[Sheena Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while to get into...

Wasn't sure I was going to finish this or not, as I wasn't really invested in any of the characters' issues, but I am interested enough in seeing where the story goes from here.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

in a word? phenomenal. I absolutely loved this story and am excited to continue with Rotted when it's available!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Rooted! The imagery of the celestial kingdom was gorgeous, felt like I was actually there. The characters were so easy to connect with, and the twists kept me hooked. And that cliffhanger… I need the next book ASAP.

[Mad Cat Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I felt the detail in the world building was great, and it was nice to have it explained along side the FMC experiencing it as well. The magic system is unlike anything else I’ve read, with the different element domains and the hierarchy in them. I would recommend this book to people who like One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig or the Kingdom of the Wicked series by Kerri Maniscalco.

I dropped a star for only two reasons.. I felt that the swearing dialogue was forced at times. I also wished there was a MMC pov earlier in the book, it seemed his jump to “you’re more than a job” was quick and unsupported since there was not his pov in the start of their friendship.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

This book took me on such an emotional rollercoaster. I felt everything right alongside Elura, from her confusion and wonder to the heartbreak and hope. The world of Velgon was so beautifully built and unlike anything I’ve read before — full of magic, mystery, and heart.

I loved the elemental aspects and the way every new reveal deepened the story. It’s one of those books that stays with you after you finish, and I’m already anxiously waiting for the next one. I really hope all the same characters come back and we get to explore even more of Velgon. 💚

[Obscurareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started reading this book after seeing the author on TikTok. I finished it in a day and I loved it. I had a lot more POV’s than I am used to while reading but I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the next book!!

[Alayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much I loved about this book. I loved the world and types of people. I LOVED Anarhi's journey. I felt very immersed when reading about everything she's gone through. With Elura and Quincy's relationship I wish there was a little more development outside of their dialog. I felt like they had a crush on eachother but I was never really rooting for them to get together. I also almost missed the whole sex scene lol. I overall enjoyed the book and cannot wait to read more about Anarhi. Her trials were written amazingly. I also really enjoy Perri as a character and I even look forward to seeing what happens with Remerrick.
Loved everything except for the romantic development of Elura and Quincy.

[Randi Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book off the authors TikTok. This was a very good book! I enjoyed all the characters and the back stories. I love the magic system and how the different elements are different kingdoms. The political tension that is going on has me in a chokehold!! I definitely want to see what happens with the different spirits and how it relates to the King. I am also very curious about what Narhi is! If you like portal and elemental magic, corruption, slow burn and political secrets you’ll definitely like this book!!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read but it did have a lot of grammar problems. Saw that the author said on tiktok that she updated with better grammar but I did not read that version. I still enjoyed the book and thought the plot and characters still deserved 5/5 stars.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soo much potential here. Thoughtful storytelling and full characters.

[scarlet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to enjoy this book, but every page is littered with grammatical errors and syntax that could use professional editing. DNF at 25%

[Alex Axlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half! The second half was a little chaotic. It was entertaining though and I like the bond between Ivy and Elura.

[Kati Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! I discovered the author on TikTok, and my algorithm did not disappoint. The world-building is amazing, the writing is descriptive and intelligent, and the author does an amazing job of putting you in the main character's shoes, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

[Elle Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, but the author is a bit odd.

[Cristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Rooted was such a fun, immersive read! If you love fantasy books that focus heavily on world-building, magical atmospheres, and character dynamics, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR. The dynamic between the main character and the group she meets is easily the highlight. The banter, the growing trust, and the slow-burn romantic subplots feel natural and keep you hooked. The beginning spends a good amount of time laying down the groundwork for how the magic and world work, so it leans more into immersive world-building early on rather than instant action. Once the plot gets rolling, though, it’s hard to put down.

[MrXDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a really good time with this one. It’s a high fantasy story, which honestly felt like a nice reset after some of the other stuff I’ve been reading lately. The worldbuilding is where this book really shines. You can tell a lot of care went into setting things up, and it lays a strong foundation for what feels like it’s going to be a pretty great series. I especially liked the elemental aspects and how they were woven into the story. It didn’t feel gimmicky, just something that added depth and made me curious to see where it goes next.

There were a few pacing hiccups early on, mainly with the multiple POVs moving at different speeds in terms of stakes. At first it felt a little uneven, like some threads were way more urgent than others. But to the book’s credit, that actually gets addressed later, and it ended up feeling more intentional by the time everything started lining up. Once things got moving, I was locked in. The balance between introspection and plot worked well, and I liked how it kept building toward those storylines eventually colliding.

By the end, I was all in. The characters felt easy to connect with, the emotional moments landed, and the growth felt earned. It wrapped up in a way that left me satisfied but also immediately ready for book two, which is always a good sign. I’d definitely read this again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a high fantasy story from an indie author that actually delivers on both character and worldbuilding.

[Lisa Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out strong. Became a little slow but felt rushed in areas. Some scenes felt like they were thrown into the story. The plot, setting, and characters are all unique. There’s a few twists and love connections. The ending gives closure but leaves it with one of the characters leaving on her own journey to continue the plot.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ma’am. With all do respect. What in the hell was that ending?! Quite the cliff you left us all hanging off. The world building was beautifully done. I was heavily invested in the characters. Lots of emotional damage. I’m here for the series. Cannot wait to see where it goes.