Elara and the Passing

by M.G. Hunt

The wind has mysteriously stopped in the township of Shinvik; a remote settlement located in the far-off Western Isles.

A young explorer, Elara, is tasked with investigating the strange meteorological phenomenon. Instructed by the town’s authorities, Elara uses her nature magik to traverse a perilous mountain pass. It is a passage no one has ever returned from.

Every traveller who has begun their trek from Shinvik has never returned. What Elara discovers on her journey through the pass will change her life forever.

Elara and the Passing is the first short story written by fantasy author MG Hunt, and is her first published work to date.

Audible Audio

Published January 21, 2025

About the author

MG Hunt is a young adult fantasy author, based in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia.

Her debut novel Still Waters Run Deep is a tale of elemental magic and mystery, drawing readers into a richly imagined universe filled with vivid characters and captivating adventures.

In her personal life, MG Hunt is a graphic designer and illustrator. She enjoys creating art and visual representations of her written work. MG Hunt currently lives in a cosy unit with her husband Ryan, and her cat Stella.

Reviews

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the secluded Shinvik, nestled in the distant Western Isles, an inexplicable calm has enveloped the air as the wind has ceased entirely. Elara is assigned to uncover the mystery behind this unusual weather event. Guided by the town's leaders, she harnesses her natural magic to navigate a treacherous mountain pass, a route notorious for claiming the lives of all who have attempted it. The revelations Elara encounters during her perilous journey will alter the course of her existence forever.

I loved the premise and immediately signed up to read this as I was interested in trying a short story and this one didn't disappoint.
This fast-paced short story had me eagerly flipping pages and I was so eager to know what would happen next. Vivid descriptions of the setting enhanced the narrative making the experience even more engaging. The story ended on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read what happens next and honestly can't wait.

Thank you so much MG Hunt for the ARC!

[Julie Patron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to MG Hunt for the opportunity to read an ARC of the short story ‘Elara and the Passing’, which will be released on August 31st, 2024!

This story follows the journey of Elara, a young explorer with nature-focused elemental powers, as she traverses a perilous mountain pass in attempt to discover why the wind has mysteriously stopped in a remote settlement named Shinvik, which is located in the far-off Western Isles of this world.

My Review:

I don’t tend to read many short stories, but coming off just reading a very lengthy trilogy, the pacing was like a breath of fresh air. This short story is very faced paced, which kept me eager to keep turning the page and see what was going to happen next.

The premise of the book itself was super interesting, and I love elemental magic so any time it was introduced into the story I loved it.

Additionally, MG Hunt described the setting very clearly and I was able to feel more immersed in the story because of that.

The reason that I did not rate this a five stars is because the characters are not built up as much as I would like in order to connect to them. This; however, is very typical for short-stories and novellas (for me personally). As they are so short, there is often not enough time to develop up the background of the world and characters, and this is not the fault of MG Hunt, but of my personal preference in the amount of content it takes for me to connect to characters in a piece of literature.

Overall, I think that MG Hunt did a great job of telling this story in the short amount of pages that a short story allows. The plot was very interesting and action-packed, and was definitely a page turner.

[Chantell Bearham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely devoured this short story!!
My only “disappointment” was there isn’t enough for the story, which I’m hoping leaves more to Elara’s story 😉

Well done MG Hunt you’ve done great ❤️❤️

[Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and short story! We got an introduction to a new world and magic system and i am so excited to read more! I love the writing style and the characters! Eagerly waiting to know them more and that cliffhanger dang i was not prepared for it and then the next page said end🫠

[Eima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elara and the Passing is a fantasy short story by M.G. Hunt that promises elemental magik, perilous adventure, mystery, and a tenacious female lead.
When the wind stopped, the world was thrown into despair and destitution, and it’s up to Elara and her nature Magik to survive a journey through the mountain pass that has claimed so many other lives to uncover the mystery behind it all.
I have to say that ‘Elara and the Passing’ shows promise. It has heart and soul, and the foundation for an epic fantasy are all there. M.G Hunt has poured herself into Elaras journey and it’s evident the care that was taken to paint a vivid picture. I’d like to temper this review with the fact that M.G Hunt doesn’t have a prolific back catalogue of work, she isn’t a seasoned author, and this short is really a small glimpse into what she intends to be a much larger story. There has to be an understanding between you, the reader, and myself, the reviewer that this has to be taken with a grain of salt. I have made every effort to be as fair and honest as I can be.
Pacing a short story is always hard. There’s a balance that needs to be struck between leaving too much detail on the cutting room floor and the reader being left wanting, and not shedding enough bulk so that the story gets weighed down in some way. There were definite moments where it felt like that balance was ever so slightly out of reach, but it’s easy enough to overlook some abruptness when the story is as intriguing as this. However there were definitely other times where it felt like major plot moments were being completely sprinted through, while points that didn’t move the plot were lavished with attention.
Throughout ‘Elara and the Passing’ I found myself wishing I had a more in depth understanding of the magik of this world, and the ways it’s harnessed. There were references to its use and obvious limitations, but I felt like I had missed out on some kind of tutorial or guide to understanding the nuances of it all. I can only assume that Hunt plans to expand far more on these points in future work in the series.
For being a fantasy novel, the written voice is very matter of fact. While some readers may enjoy straight forward sentences that aren’t bloated or bedazzled, I found myself wishing for a little more pizzazz. At times it almost felt too clinical or procedural. It made it hard to invest, or to feel how high the stakes were, or read the emotions in the scene.
Throughout my reading of ‘Elara and the Passing’ there were moments I returned to the assumption that there must be a plan to offer context for missing information in the broader universe in the first major release in the series. Unfortunately though, I am a firm believer that a short story should be able to stand on its own without leaving the audience wanting.
As a concept ‘Elara and the Passing’ is exciting. The world it suggests, the magik it offers, and the journey it so badly wants to take you on sound delightful. In practice though, I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t quite done justice yet. It shows promise though. If a marriage can be found between the ideas and the execution it could be something wonderful.

[Bo-Maree Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

If short story, Elara and the Passing is an appetiser for MG Hunt's debut novel, Still Waters Run Deep (scheduled for release in 2025), all I can say is I can't wait.

Releasing on 31 August 2024, Elara and the Passing is a fast paced, light read full of elemental magic, mystery, suspense and adventure. It introduces us to Elara, a determined young explorer who is charged with traversing a perilous mountain pass that others have left for, but never returned from. The reason behind this seemingly impossible task - to find out why the wind has stopped in the settlement of Shinvik.

MG Hunt has managed to do in forty pages what some authors are unable to do in a full length novel - describe scenes in such vivid detail that they come to life like you are watching them unfold in front of you. I loved the inclusion of the map and artwork and since my first read, the author has also released a playlist that captures the vibe of the story which helps the reader immerse themselves even further into Elara's world.

For those that are not used to reading short stories the pacing and world building can take a bit to get used to but if you stay focused on the story you won't be disappointed and the cliffhanger will leave you wanting more.

If you're looking for a fun, easy read fantasy adventure, Elara and the Passing is for you.

[Samantha Picaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

BEWARE OF SLIGHT SPOILERS!



This was a fast-paced, beautiful fantasy adventure story


Highlights of the book:
• Determined female MC
• Magical abilities regarding elements. I always love that trope in fantasy or sci-fi
• Survival elements of getting through the mountain. There is more survival to ensure after getting through the mountain but I won’t spoil anything
• A traveler accomplishing what no other traveler has accomplished
• Beautiful descriptions of places and people
• (sorry for the spoiler!) a hidden civilization
• A heck of a cliffhanger


What could have been improved:
• Constant grammar and spelling errors
• This is described as a YA novel yet the protagonist is described as being 25, so would NA or Adult be a more appropriate classification?
• Not much information given about Elara’s background or about the world and its magic
• Some scenes felt rushed
• There are some slight plot holes or scenes that don't make sense. In one scene, Elara (sorry for slight spoiler) thrusts her arms to use her abilities but she was previously described as having her hands tied behind her back yet there is no mention between this and the scene where she thrusts her arms of how she got her hands untied

Overall, I enjoyed this fantasy adventure and can't wait to read Still Waters Run Deep

[Tori_book_nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im rating Elara and the passing a 3.5 - 4 stars 🌟 only because I was so invested before the cliffhanger happened. I did love this story, though. This is my very first short story, and I love the characters. I just hope we can get a little more to it (maybe a second book). Thank you, MG Hunt, for this opportunity and for letting me explore more into this world you had created. I like how I was able to read and listen to the playlist you created for this story, It helped me envision how this world looked. It gives the perfect vibes, too. ❤️ I highly recommend people reading this book and listen to the playlist because it grips you into the story. Do you wanna know what it feels like to travel into a book?? This is it.

This story is about a girl named Elara who is a young explorer who sets out on an adventure to find out why the lands around them as well as their own have lost the wind that once flowed through the passing causing these lands to die out.
This story gives a sense of magic, romance, adventure, and so much more ❤️

Thank you again, MG Hunt, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this amazing story, I hope to read more of your books soon. 📚 I absolutely fell in love with it.

[Bhiju · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elara is a young explorer with nature's elemental magical powers who embarks on a mission to discover the reason behind the sudden halt in the wind in and around her township. She travels through a mountain pass where none of the explorers who had been there earlier have ever returned. The story is a really fast-paced, page-turner where we tend to travel along with Elara into the fantasy world to reveal the mystery.

MG Hunt has provided a map, illustrations, and even a playlist, which helps the readers dive into the story's mood very easily. She has created her own world, which is highly commendable.

The author has tried her best to do justice to this short story, but here and there, it has its own flaws. Since it's a short story, I felt a little rushed. More briefs about Elara and her lifestyle, or about her magical powers could have been provided which helps one to get connected to the character even more organically. The secrets behind Faeyvin, the leader - Mohan, Ona, Ennu, and the air controllers could have been elaborated more. Maybe she would do this in the next series.

Expecting a lot from her upcoming debut novel (Still Waters Runs Deep).
If you are a fantasy and adventure lover, you will definitely love this short story.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elara is an explorer who sets off on a quest through a perilous mountain pass to try to uncover the secret behind the lack of wind and help the people who rely on wind turbines as a key energy source.
The concept of a civilization powered by wind that is slowly dying due to an ominous air-stillness spreading across the land was original and provided a great overarching mystery to keep in mind.
I’m also a fan of elemental magic systems, but I wish we’d gotten more explanation on how Elara’s nature affinity works. I wanted to better understand what she feels when she manipulates nature and what it costs her to use this magik.
I enjoyed the description of Faeyvin and the treehouse-like apartment that Elara stayed in, which reminded me a little of Pandora from Avatar. But some aspects of the plot felt rushed, such as the scene where Elara exposes herself as a nature affinity to the leaders of Faeyvin and the romantic encounter with Ennu.
This short-story ended on a great cliffhanger! We’re left with many questions about the motivations of Leader Mohan, the secrets of Faeyvin, and where those mysterious foreign guards came from?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was captivated from the beginning. MG Hunt is beautifully descriptive in setting up the scenery and world around you. The plot is captivating and intriguing and shows great promise. I did feel that there could have been further character development.

It is a short story, and does a great job in setting the scene for MG Hunt's upcoming debut novel, Still Waters Run Deep, to be released in 2025. As MG Hunt describes it, it is an appetiser. The cliff hanger definitely has me wanting more of this world and the mystery behind it. It certainly felt short and I could have kept reading more!

Story overview
The wind has mysteriously stopped in the township of Shinvik; a remote settlement located in the far-off Western Isles.
A young explorer, Elara, is tasked with investigating the strange meteorological phenomenon.
Instructed by the town’s authorities, Elara uses her nature magik to traverse a perilous mountain pass. It is a passage where no one has ever returned from. Every traveler who has begun their trek from Shinvik has never returned.
What Elara discovers on her journey through the mountain pass will change her life forever.

[bookss_andblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve only recently gotten into reading fantasy, which is why I was super excited to read this short story too, and trust me, it paid off.
Although this was a very short read, its amusing how much detail the author has managed to pack into the story. The few characters that were introduced had so much personality.

My favourite thing about this is the nature affinity that the characters have. It seems so interesting and I was craving to know more about each affinity and how they worked. I’d LOVE to read a proper novel with a setting/gifts like these, I’m already so invested.

Despite being a short story, this definitely had me hooked! There was not just one, but different aspects that kept me reading - would Elara get to the other side of the mountain pass? What was on the other side? What caused the wind to stop in shinvik in the first place? What makes Elara so special that the leaders of Shinvik thought she could help them?

That being said, I think the only thing I disliked was how short this read was. I wish it was longer, I would have absolutely devoured it!!

[alyshas_bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually read short stories but this really drew me in! I was lucky to get an arc; My first thought was that I love the art work of this story and the map really helps me become more immersed while I’m reading. I was able to understand the characters and their reasoning. It’s a very easy light read which I love. I thought the MC was very interesting and would love to learn more about her.

My critique would be i just wish it was a little bit longer so I could get more attached to the character or a bit more emotionally attached to the backstory. Also more of an understanding of how the magic works, I think the premise is great I just would have loved more of it. It was still a fantastic read and I highly recommend everyone read it. There did seem to be a cliffhanger so I am excited to see this world expanded on hopefully! Also MG Hunt did the art work which is very impressive I can’t wait to see what she releases next.

Also I would love a pronunciation guide for the names of places. I give this book 3.5-4 stars ⭐️💛

[David Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this short story away. I was hooked from the first page. MG Hunt really knows how to set the scene and the characters to take you on an adventure with Elara that is filled with curiosity, courage, strength and honour. Elara is a strong character yet she has real emotions that you can relate to. I don't want to give too much away. This short story is just a taste of what is to come from MG Hunt. Her debut novel, I am sure will captivate readers.

[David Cirnigliaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read and a very well written short novel by M.G Hunt. I was completely hooked once I started reading this and could not put it down until I finished. Whilst this book is a fantasy novel, I believe the reader can certainly relate to Elara's determination to keep going even when times become difficult. This is what I truly loved about the novel.

I am so excited to continue to read M.G Hunt's future work!

[Simone Kamfonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is amazing, my only issue there wasn't enough.
The characters, the world building, the story all of it, I am blown away.
I cannot wait for Still Waters Run Deep. I need it now, MG Hunt you are one of my new favourite authors.

[Jaz Vermaas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story and even in the short time, the twists and turns kept on having me wanting more! I'm really looking forward to reading "Still Waters Run Deep" as I love MG Hunt's writing style as it connects you to the characters on a deeper level!

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the incredible MG Hunt for the opportunity to read this! I devoured it! Elara is so much fun to follow and I was kept on my toes the entire time! I was hooked not only on the story, but the writing style as well. While reading, I felt like was right there with our characters. Please, please, read!

[Alexandra Nodea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a nice short story, very detailed, full of exciting adventure. It’s a bit too short for my taste, but hopefully it will be a preview for a bigger story. It was a pleasure to read it!

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! This book was amazing I loved the story it was beautifully written and the character development was amazing.

[Ashlie Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Book Title: Elara and the Passing
✍🏼 MG Hunt
✨ Rating: 4/5

“The wind has mysteriously stopped in the township of Shinvik; a remote settlement located in the far-off Western Isles.“

Elara and the Passing by MG Hunt is a captivating journey into a world where magic and reality intertwine seamlessly. The protagonist, Elara, is a strong and relatable character whose journey of self-discovery is both engaging and inspiring. Hunt’s writing is vivid, painting a rich tapestry of enchanting landscapes and intriguing characters.

The plot is well-paced, balancing suspense and emotional depth, which keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. Overall, it’s a delightful read for fantasy lovers, offering a fresh perspective on themes of courage, friendship, and the quest for identity.

📢 please note that this is a short story that is 40 pages long.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elara and the Passing is a fun, new short story written by MG Hunt, being published on August 31, 2024. It’s written within the same universe as her upcoming debut novel, Still Waters Run Deep, slated to be released in 2025.

I absolutely loved the concept of Elara and the Passing. It’s set in the Western Isles, a land that depends and runs on wind turbines. Mysteriously, the wind has stopped and the towns are decimated by the lack of energy being produced by the now motionless turbines. Elara, the main character, is tasked with finding the reason the wind has stopped and a solution to save her people. She must first make it through a treacherous mountain pass that no one has come out of alive, and then survive the mystery of what’s on the other side, before returning to her homeland. There is elemental magik, there is mystery, and there is adventure!

The story is very fast paced, which is fun! It keeps the reader hooked and invested. However, it’s hard to ascertain just how long the main character has been traveling, which can cause some confusion. For a short story, this is okay. If this were a full length novel, it might create some plot holes.

Details and descriptions are abundant. I loved that Hunt was so thorough in describing the physical aspects of her story. She wrote about clothing, landscape, appearances, and temperatures in such detail that the scenes truly came to life and played out beautifully, almost as if I were watching a movie. I personally would have liked to spend more time exploring emotions and relationships, not just reading about magiks and the physical aspects of a scene. It would be more relatable had we gotten into the nitty gritty personality and emotional side of the characters! Overall, though, I enjoyed it!

While there were grammatical errors and incomplete sentences, they didn’t detract from the pace or the plot. If you go in with an open mind and stay focused on the actual story, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you, MG Hunt, for choosing me as one of your ARC readers. It was a fun read that left off on a nice cliffhanger, and I’m salivating for the next installment.

[TheSeasonedReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 🌟

Elara is a young explorer, who is tasked with investigating why the wind has mysteriously stopped in the township of Shinvik.

Elara uses her nature magic to traverse a perilous mountain pass, one that no one has ever returned from; and what Elara discovers on her journey through the pass will change her life forever.

I thought this was well written, and could have developed so much more as a story. I felt that I had been hung out to dry.

I'm keen to read the author's next novel.

[Tracey Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this short story! What a read!!

This is the first short story I’ve ever read, it was fast-paced from the start which had, and held, my attention from the get-go.

It follows Elara as she crosses the mountain pass to try and investigate why the wind has mysteriously stopped in Shinvik - a remote town in the Western Isles. A journey which no one before her has ever been able to complete.

This is a perfect read if you are after a break between longer reads.

The ending is a real cliffhanger which leaves me in great hope that there is more to come!!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and adventurous short story, gripping from start to finish!