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Unkindness of Old Giants
It was the middle of her Nightswift week, her phone lit up with a message from Cyrus…
Elodie Santiago found home in Humboldt County, Ca. In fact she saved it all from a terrible force threatening to wipe out the life she built. Those coast redwoods chose her and she chose them alongside the mortals and hidden fae population. The leaders of the fae population, Lord Greenthistle, Lord Nightswift, and Lord Ashdale have all welcomed her into their homes and families. They have also established a summer full of training to help her adapt to her newly acquired powers the Old Giants granted her. Despite all that, Elodie can’t help but stumble through her doubts.
Cyrus Nightswift, heir apparent to the Nightswift ravens can hardly get through the night without nightmares of the past eight months. He knows something in him is changing, and he is too terrified to face it, to face anyone for that matter. With his wings clipped by terrors, secrets and the possibility of losing his title, he has no clear path forward, until one little overly anxious and curious mink reaches for him.
With doubts weighing her down, and terrors seizing him, Elodie and Cyrus soon realize they are on a similar trail. When the annual regional conference occurs, tension hangs in the air and they all feel it. Unknown to them all coyotes have infiltrated the land of the Old Giants and are watching Humboldt’s estates and their chosen one very closely waiting for take what they feel is rightfully theirs.
Set in the wilds of Northern California, this tale of magical realism brings found family, redemption, and unlikely besties navigating their way through responsibilities and prying eyes of high fae politics.
Author’s This book is the second in contemporary eco-fantasy trilogy. It includes heavy topics intended for a mature audience including episodes of PTSD, anxiety, and other themes that may not be suitable for sensitive or younger readers.
Elodie Santiago found home in Humboldt County, Ca. In fact she saved it all from a terrible force threatening to wipe out the life she built. Those coast redwoods chose her and she chose them alongside the mortals and hidden fae population. The leaders of the fae population, Lord Greenthistle, Lord Nightswift, and Lord Ashdale have all welcomed her into their homes and families. They have also established a summer full of training to help her adapt to her newly acquired powers the Old Giants granted her. Despite all that, Elodie can’t help but stumble through her doubts.
Cyrus Nightswift, heir apparent to the Nightswift ravens can hardly get through the night without nightmares of the past eight months. He knows something in him is changing, and he is too terrified to face it, to face anyone for that matter. With his wings clipped by terrors, secrets and the possibility of losing his title, he has no clear path forward, until one little overly anxious and curious mink reaches for him.
With doubts weighing her down, and terrors seizing him, Elodie and Cyrus soon realize they are on a similar trail. When the annual regional conference occurs, tension hangs in the air and they all feel it. Unknown to them all coyotes have infiltrated the land of the Old Giants and are watching Humboldt’s estates and their chosen one very closely waiting for take what they feel is rightfully theirs.
Set in the wilds of Northern California, this tale of magical realism brings found family, redemption, and unlikely besties navigating their way through responsibilities and prying eyes of high fae politics.
Author’s This book is the second in contemporary eco-fantasy trilogy. It includes heavy topics intended for a mature audience including episodes of PTSD, anxiety, and other themes that may not be suitable for sensitive or younger readers.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 5, 2025
Unkindness Of Old Giants is the sequel to Kelly Viren's Eco-Fantasy series debut! and it did not disappoint.
I will try my best to spoiler free review, because I think they are equally important.
Book two starts after the events of book one, with everyone ultimately being shaken up. We have each estate trying to come to terms with what's happened while integrating Elodie into their world. There are plenty of ups and downs, making for a fun adventure. We do get to see more of these characters and their personalities. We get to see more of the fae side of this worlds and it's politics, which is always great to see in a series blending fantasy, and magical realism.
I had a lot of fun with this and really enjoyed the direction the author took, not seen often. (I'm sure it's done but the approach felt unique)
As much as I enjoyed seeing our protagonist adapt to her surroundings I did find the first 40% of the book to be tough and long to get through. But I understand how necessary it was. Given the well portrayed mental health themes with poor Cyrus's downfall, and Elodie's anxieties, this isn't something character's work through in 40 pages. So I'm impressed with this!
I'm happy with the bittersweet ending, leaning more positive. I'm interested to see how Quinn and Justine are going to end up!
Lastly, I will never look at cats and cat treats the same way again! haha!!
I will try my best to spoiler free review, because I think they are equally important.
Book two starts after the events of book one, with everyone ultimately being shaken up. We have each estate trying to come to terms with what's happened while integrating Elodie into their world. There are plenty of ups and downs, making for a fun adventure. We do get to see more of these characters and their personalities. We get to see more of the fae side of this worlds and it's politics, which is always great to see in a series blending fantasy, and magical realism.
I had a lot of fun with this and really enjoyed the direction the author took, not seen often. (I'm sure it's done but the approach felt unique)
As much as I enjoyed seeing our protagonist adapt to her surroundings I did find the first 40% of the book to be tough and long to get through. But I understand how necessary it was. Given the well portrayed mental health themes with poor Cyrus's downfall, and Elodie's anxieties, this isn't something character's work through in 40 pages. So I'm impressed with this!
I'm happy with the bittersweet ending, leaning more positive. I'm interested to see how Quinn and Justine are going to end up!
Lastly, I will never look at cats and cat treats the same way again! haha!!
May 19, 2025
I would like to thank author Kelly Virens for providing me an eARC, I really appreciate it. Now, onto my review:
This was a heavy read. After the events of the last book, our characters have fragmented. The horrors at the ruins is a wound not easily stitched shut. Elodie always struggled with her confidence and now with the responsibility of being Earth Blessed atop all that? The dynamic between Trevin, Quinn, and Cyrus was forever altered, their closeness broken. The plot is pretty simply, the estate heirs and Elodie must prepare for the coming conference of the fae, where the events at the ruins as well as Elodie’s Earth Blessed status can be deliberated and acted upon. I have to say, I appreciated the additional perspectives. Book one primarily focused on Elodie and Trev, but in Unkindness, we have Cyrus, Quinn, and occasionally villainous perspectives. The first 30% of this book was a heavy stream of depression and doubt for our lovable cast of characters, and that was difficult to get through, with the state of the world at the time of this review. But once Elodie made her way through the three ruling estates, things picked up. My favorite part of this book had to be Cyrus. In the first book, he’s obviously an antagonistic presence, being possessed by the spirit Inanis and all that. But here, he goes through the aftermath of such a traumatic time in a convincing way. He is lost and only gets back on the path to being heir again with Elodie’s help. Eventually, he gains his own footing and affirms his position as heir to Nightswift. I appreciated the story and character focus this time around, chiefly character dynamics and how people can bounce back from such trauma. I have to say the subplot with Austin and Zuli, and their plot to take down the Humboldt estates is intriguing and I’m sure will be the focus of book 3 when it is written. And Quinn near the end? Damn. He must really love Justine. But something tells me that their ending will not be a happy one.
This was a heavy read. After the events of the last book, our characters have fragmented. The horrors at the ruins is a wound not easily stitched shut. Elodie always struggled with her confidence and now with the responsibility of being Earth Blessed atop all that? The dynamic between Trevin, Quinn, and Cyrus was forever altered, their closeness broken. The plot is pretty simply, the estate heirs and Elodie must prepare for the coming conference of the fae, where the events at the ruins as well as Elodie’s Earth Blessed status can be deliberated and acted upon. I have to say, I appreciated the additional perspectives. Book one primarily focused on Elodie and Trev, but in Unkindness, we have Cyrus, Quinn, and occasionally villainous perspectives. The first 30% of this book was a heavy stream of depression and doubt for our lovable cast of characters, and that was difficult to get through, with the state of the world at the time of this review. But once Elodie made her way through the three ruling estates, things picked up. My favorite part of this book had to be Cyrus. In the first book, he’s obviously an antagonistic presence, being possessed by the spirit Inanis and all that. But here, he goes through the aftermath of such a traumatic time in a convincing way. He is lost and only gets back on the path to being heir again with Elodie’s help. Eventually, he gains his own footing and affirms his position as heir to Nightswift. I appreciated the story and character focus this time around, chiefly character dynamics and how people can bounce back from such trauma. I have to say the subplot with Austin and Zuli, and their plot to take down the Humboldt estates is intriguing and I’m sure will be the focus of book 3 when it is written. And Quinn near the end? Damn. He must really love Justine. But something tells me that their ending will not be a happy one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews