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Alfheim
Timothy Brennan suffers a deep depression from romantic rejection, his mother’s death, and having to live with an ogre of an uncle. When he tries to kill himself, a fae creature named Aenya saves him because of her suspicion that he’s not human.
They soon discover he's the last heir to an ancient elfin realm. When he realizes his mothers death was murder, Timothy sets out for revenge, while those around him experience his unnatural healing abilities. They recognize he might be the one to restore the lost realm of Alfheim. Timothy must come to terms with his abilities and his responsibilities while trying to stay alive from his distant relatives who want to see him dead.
They soon discover he's the last heir to an ancient elfin realm. When he realizes his mothers death was murder, Timothy sets out for revenge, while those around him experience his unnatural healing abilities. They recognize he might be the one to restore the lost realm of Alfheim. Timothy must come to terms with his abilities and his responsibilities while trying to stay alive from his distant relatives who want to see him dead.
312 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 29, 2016
Allow me to preface this review by saying nothing pleases my heart more than seeing a newly-published writer spread their wings, especially when that writer is someone as warm and wonderful as author Gary Nilsen. I truly look forward to watching him grow and succeed as a writer in the days to come.
Being perfectly honest, however, this book for me was only a solid two stars for me until more than halfway through. Granted, some of the things I found detrimental to the story may be precisely what makes it appealing to what I assume would the teen target audience. Timothy Brennan, our awkward, outcast, secretly magical 17-year-old protagonist, is at times unlikeable to me for how melodramatic and lacking in confidence he is. I try to keep in mind how at that age it's easy to be insecure and feel everything at much greater volume, so this could easily be a point of connection for other readers. Timothy does experience realization and growth, admitting to himself almost verbatim thoughts I'd had to myself about situations and characters in the story, but stubbornly clings to unlikeable "special snowflake" tropes so unfortunately prevalent in YA fiction today. While giving young people a refuge in the form of relatable characters at difficult times in their life is important, showing them there are always better ways is equally important. I didn't feel Timothy quite fit the bill in that aspect. He might do a little of the opposite.
Aenya was the real treasure for the most part. Her character seems more smoothly written, more alive, and largely makes up for what others might lack. There are points at which it feels she's reduced to something two-dimensional or acts a little out of character to serve as a plot device for the main protagonist, but Aenya shines nonetheless. I can only hope young readers will make it a point to take a leaf out of her book.
For me, two-dimensional, flat characters was a recurring issue. There is an impressive amount of named characters, most with the glimmer of potential to be one readers could really latch on to, but they sadly lack substance. Young Eoghan and Labras could become dear to Timothy and readers alike, Líle could be a cornerstone, and I sense a valuable secret in Bardán. The villains strike me as being villains "just because" with only brief allusions to a motive that could be so much more.
Odd inconsistencies in the characters' voices are also a distraction. An Elder Druid elfin Councilman referencing having "their asses saved from catastrophe"? Awkward little Timothy occasionally speaking the same way as the elves when he had no exposure to them prior to three weeks ago? Even Aenya lapses into terms and euphemisms that are inconsistent with her aforementioned self-imposed isolation. Moving forward I hope to see stronger, well-defined voices from each of the characters and less of a singular, shared tone.
World building and lore would be another lacking aspect if I wasn't under the impression that the reader is purposely kept at the same level of knowledge as Timothy. Given the short span of weeks in the book not a lot is actually known about elfin culture or history, but there is potential there for something truly absorbing. I'm especially excited to hear the elfin explanation for many human fairy tales at greater length. The scenery and the way it was described with multiple senses was a real treat.
The overall pacing of the story is a bit choppy, which can make the action and drama seem stilted. It's easier to perceive it as a movie than a novel, oddly. As negative as that sounds, I understand how that trait could also make the story more appealing or easily digested for younger readers. Interestingly I felt I could tell the scenes Nilsen had pictured vividly in his mind apart from the ones he wrote as a means from getting from on point to another. Those were very good, indeed.
My final criticism lies in this. For what I perceive to be the target audience (ages 14-18), the language used in the book was at times inappropriate. In an honest world, parents wouldn't assume children don't use whatever language they please as soon as they're out of earshot and be up in arms the moment the child expresses interest in something containing said language. Sadly, parents almost seem eager to discount and forbid anything young people care about as quickly as possible, rather than simply being grateful they're actually reading. I fear this could act as a barrier for some young readers, as many parents care more about blind, ignorant gatekeeping as opposed to cultivating the mind.
All in all the book was an enjoyable experience regardless of the fact that there's room for vast improvement. As a matter of fact I look forward to seeing this improvement in forthcoming installations and intend to see Nilsen's tale through to the end.
Being perfectly honest, however, this book for me was only a solid two stars for me until more than halfway through. Granted, some of the things I found detrimental to the story may be precisely what makes it appealing to what I assume would the teen target audience. Timothy Brennan, our awkward, outcast, secretly magical 17-year-old protagonist, is at times unlikeable to me for how melodramatic and lacking in confidence he is. I try to keep in mind how at that age it's easy to be insecure and feel everything at much greater volume, so this could easily be a point of connection for other readers. Timothy does experience realization and growth, admitting to himself almost verbatim thoughts I'd had to myself about situations and characters in the story, but stubbornly clings to unlikeable "special snowflake" tropes so unfortunately prevalent in YA fiction today. While giving young people a refuge in the form of relatable characters at difficult times in their life is important, showing them there are always better ways is equally important. I didn't feel Timothy quite fit the bill in that aspect. He might do a little of the opposite.
Aenya was the real treasure for the most part. Her character seems more smoothly written, more alive, and largely makes up for what others might lack. There are points at which it feels she's reduced to something two-dimensional or acts a little out of character to serve as a plot device for the main protagonist, but Aenya shines nonetheless. I can only hope young readers will make it a point to take a leaf out of her book.
For me, two-dimensional, flat characters was a recurring issue. There is an impressive amount of named characters, most with the glimmer of potential to be one readers could really latch on to, but they sadly lack substance. Young Eoghan and Labras could become dear to Timothy and readers alike, Líle could be a cornerstone, and I sense a valuable secret in Bardán. The villains strike me as being villains "just because" with only brief allusions to a motive that could be so much more.
Odd inconsistencies in the characters' voices are also a distraction. An Elder Druid elfin Councilman referencing having "their asses saved from catastrophe"? Awkward little Timothy occasionally speaking the same way as the elves when he had no exposure to them prior to three weeks ago? Even Aenya lapses into terms and euphemisms that are inconsistent with her aforementioned self-imposed isolation. Moving forward I hope to see stronger, well-defined voices from each of the characters and less of a singular, shared tone.
World building and lore would be another lacking aspect if I wasn't under the impression that the reader is purposely kept at the same level of knowledge as Timothy. Given the short span of weeks in the book not a lot is actually known about elfin culture or history, but there is potential there for something truly absorbing. I'm especially excited to hear the elfin explanation for many human fairy tales at greater length. The scenery and the way it was described with multiple senses was a real treat.
The overall pacing of the story is a bit choppy, which can make the action and drama seem stilted. It's easier to perceive it as a movie than a novel, oddly. As negative as that sounds, I understand how that trait could also make the story more appealing or easily digested for younger readers. Interestingly I felt I could tell the scenes Nilsen had pictured vividly in his mind apart from the ones he wrote as a means from getting from on point to another. Those were very good, indeed.
My final criticism lies in this. For what I perceive to be the target audience (ages 14-18), the language used in the book was at times inappropriate. In an honest world, parents wouldn't assume children don't use whatever language they please as soon as they're out of earshot and be up in arms the moment the child expresses interest in something containing said language. Sadly, parents almost seem eager to discount and forbid anything young people care about as quickly as possible, rather than simply being grateful they're actually reading. I fear this could act as a barrier for some young readers, as many parents care more about blind, ignorant gatekeeping as opposed to cultivating the mind.
All in all the book was an enjoyable experience regardless of the fact that there's room for vast improvement. As a matter of fact I look forward to seeing this improvement in forthcoming installations and intend to see Nilsen's tale through to the end.
May 15, 2016
As a lover of Celtic lore and mythology, I found Mr. Nilsen's book wonderful to read. Timothy Brennan finds one day that he's related to mystical creatures and must face his destiny as savior. There are traces of mythology well known to enthusiasts of Celtic lore, and even a little taste of Arthurian legend. If you're a fan of Rick Riordan's novels, then you'll enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews