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The Windflower Saga #19
Albina: A Windflower Saga Novella
"Albina" was a Bronze Medalist in the 2018 Global eBook Awards for Fantasy Fiction/Other World.
"Albina" is a coming-of-age story set in a historical fantasy world.
We meet Albina in the epic fantasy novel "Far A Quest For Certitude. A Fight for Justice." (Part III of the Windflower Saga trilogy). She is the only daughter of Tribune Loris Kennet of Pomerania and Lady Keridwen, the former Duchess of Ansgar, of Kimbria. Albina and her brothers grow up in the only mixed-race family in the city. However, we know little about her beyond the details of her birth and that she attends university to study science.
This novella, told in her own words, fills in the gap. It follows her from childhood until she leaves home at sixteen to begin her higher education; and then her adventures, struggles, and triumphs as she helps her friends, comes to grips with her mixed-race, multicultural identity, pursues her higher education, and experiences her first romance.
Told from Albina's perspective, it's a charming take on its own. For fans of The Windflower Saga, it's a wonderful expansion of the story of the descendants of Duke Ansgar and High Chief Keholani.
"Albina" is a coming-of-age story set in a historical fantasy world.
We meet Albina in the epic fantasy novel "Far A Quest For Certitude. A Fight for Justice." (Part III of the Windflower Saga trilogy). She is the only daughter of Tribune Loris Kennet of Pomerania and Lady Keridwen, the former Duchess of Ansgar, of Kimbria. Albina and her brothers grow up in the only mixed-race family in the city. However, we know little about her beyond the details of her birth and that she attends university to study science.
This novella, told in her own words, fills in the gap. It follows her from childhood until she leaves home at sixteen to begin her higher education; and then her adventures, struggles, and triumphs as she helps her friends, comes to grips with her mixed-race, multicultural identity, pursues her higher education, and experiences her first romance.
Told from Albina's perspective, it's a charming take on its own. For fans of The Windflower Saga, it's a wonderful expansion of the story of the descendants of Duke Ansgar and High Chief Keholani.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2016
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Aleksandra Layland
35 books8 followersAleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation civil engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems. Her other interests include arts and crafts, family genealogy, religion and spirituality, fostering peace in the world, and enjoying retirement with family and friends.
The award-winning epic fantasy Windflower Saga is comprised of a trilogy of novels and eight related novellas as well as several books for younger readers. They trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar family of Kimbria against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, war and peace, integrity and corruption. It was the author’s first attempt at writing novels.
The award-winning epic fantasy Windflower Saga is comprised of a trilogy of novels and eight related novellas as well as several books for younger readers. They trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar family of Kimbria against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, war and peace, integrity and corruption. It was the author’s first attempt at writing novels.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 29, 2018
Albina takes you to the adulthood of a young woman's life, which was just a whisper in a previous Windflower Saga novel, Far Haven. Aleksandra Layland records that the young woman, Lady Albina Kennet, is not only very intelligent, but also able to see those who have gone on before. Just as this special gift guided Albina through important events in her life; she also learned the absence of her grandmothers' presence was an indication that she took a wrong path somewhere in her life. Albina was quite confused when these elderly women followed her around just waving at her, to make it worse, no one else could see them. She learned to accept their presence as a blessing in her life.
Aleksandra Layland takes a subject that could be very sensitive and demonstrates, how if handled correctly, could be used as a teaching tool. I love how Aleksandra Layland uses Albina's parents influence to teach her young peers that the value of a person is not their appearance. What I find the most beautiful about the novella, Albina, would be when Albina learns to embrace both parts of her heritage. She grows up under the wealth and prestige from her father and grandfather's scientific influence, then later she lives among her mother's people. Though this novella is a spinoff of Far Haven, I love how the author gives the highlights and history of both families so this short book can stand alone. I enjoyed reading about this young woman who realized the decisions she made in her life affected those around her. When you read it be prepared to want to read all the rest of her books.
This review was written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
Aleksandra Layland takes a subject that could be very sensitive and demonstrates, how if handled correctly, could be used as a teaching tool. I love how Aleksandra Layland uses Albina's parents influence to teach her young peers that the value of a person is not their appearance. What I find the most beautiful about the novella, Albina, would be when Albina learns to embrace both parts of her heritage. She grows up under the wealth and prestige from her father and grandfather's scientific influence, then later she lives among her mother's people. Though this novella is a spinoff of Far Haven, I love how the author gives the highlights and history of both families so this short book can stand alone. I enjoyed reading about this young woman who realized the decisions she made in her life affected those around her. When you read it be prepared to want to read all the rest of her books.
This review was written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
September 4, 2017
Every life has a story. Even the secondary characters in a fictional novel have a story to tell. Albina is one of these secondary characters, but her story is worth telling, too. And what better way to tell Albina’s story, than in her own words, as a memoir, from her earliest memories until adulthood. There must be more, but this, in itself, paints a picture of a fascinating character that will find her place in several fictional novels situated in fictional settings in a fictional world, in a fictional time.
Aleksandra Layland has written several novels (and children’s novellas) in his Windflower Saga series. Taking a fictional world, Kimbria and Pomerania and many other communities around the Great Aspatrian Sea. Most of the Windflower Saga stories capture the growing power of the royal Ansgar family of Kimbria. But, as so often is the case, some characters capture the author’s attention and demand that their stories be told in greater detail. This is what happened. Albina captured the author’s attention and her story was revealed. “Albina: A Windflower Saga Novella” is Albina’s story and, by allowing Albina to tell her own story, the author has given her story more character, more life.
This sweet young girl, the only daughter of two other characters in this Windflower Saga series, Tribune Loris Kennet and Lady Keridwen, the former Duchess of Ansgar, grows up, matures and shows a brilliance in science that takes her far in her studies and her research, all for the benefit of her people. She is also portrayed as a very sweet-natured and caring young lady. A charmer. Through friendships gained and friendships lost, romantic challenges of the heart, Aldina is a very lovable character full of zest for life and her story, as much as is told in this short novella, makes the reader want to know more about her and her adventures. A pleasant read.
Reviewed for Readers' Favorite
Aleksandra Layland has written several novels (and children’s novellas) in his Windflower Saga series. Taking a fictional world, Kimbria and Pomerania and many other communities around the Great Aspatrian Sea. Most of the Windflower Saga stories capture the growing power of the royal Ansgar family of Kimbria. But, as so often is the case, some characters capture the author’s attention and demand that their stories be told in greater detail. This is what happened. Albina captured the author’s attention and her story was revealed. “Albina: A Windflower Saga Novella” is Albina’s story and, by allowing Albina to tell her own story, the author has given her story more character, more life.
This sweet young girl, the only daughter of two other characters in this Windflower Saga series, Tribune Loris Kennet and Lady Keridwen, the former Duchess of Ansgar, grows up, matures and shows a brilliance in science that takes her far in her studies and her research, all for the benefit of her people. She is also portrayed as a very sweet-natured and caring young lady. A charmer. Through friendships gained and friendships lost, romantic challenges of the heart, Aldina is a very lovable character full of zest for life and her story, as much as is told in this short novella, makes the reader want to know more about her and her adventures. A pleasant read.
Reviewed for Readers' Favorite
December 2, 2016
Layland works her storytelling magic again as we enter back into her historic fantasy world with the sweet and charming branch off the story of ALBINA. You see The Windflower Saga consist of the 3 main trilogies. Then there is branch off books from these main trilogies that make up the epic The Windflower Saga, and that is where ALBINA fits in.
ALBINA focuses on Loris and Keridwen daughter from the third book in the trilogy Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude. A Quest for Justice. While different from the rest of the series as it is written in first person, not third person once you get into the story ALBINA it could not be written any other way. Layland gives Albina such a sweet intelligent voice you fall in love with her instantly and are so grateful she did not marry that arrogant Hemmings! Layland's love of genealogy really shines in this book too though if you find genealogy and family lines a tad confusing as I do that part of the book may make your head spin trying to remember who is who and whom to what in this large ducal family in line Layland created.
That aside ALBINA is a wonderful happy short novella fitting perfectly within the Windflower Saga revealing and expand more in the amazing world Layland created.
ALBINA focuses on Loris and Keridwen daughter from the third book in the trilogy Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude. A Quest for Justice. While different from the rest of the series as it is written in first person, not third person once you get into the story ALBINA it could not be written any other way. Layland gives Albina such a sweet intelligent voice you fall in love with her instantly and are so grateful she did not marry that arrogant Hemmings! Layland's love of genealogy really shines in this book too though if you find genealogy and family lines a tad confusing as I do that part of the book may make your head spin trying to remember who is who and whom to what in this large ducal family in line Layland created.
That aside ALBINA is a wonderful happy short novella fitting perfectly within the Windflower Saga revealing and expand more in the amazing world Layland created.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews