Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child

Fire on the Clouds Trilogy #1

by Michael Ban

Ever had one of those days when your parents get murdered by assassins from another planet, and your toothbrush tells you to head for an ancient castle, to shut down a dangerous inter-dimensional portal? Yeah, me too. That was last Monday.

Turns out, there's a war going on in a land that I have to get to, through a portal to another planet. These big, mean monsters are rampaging all over, killing everyone in their path.

Apparently, I was born in that land, and some people think I'm the only one that can stop those monsters. Which is quite a laugh, actually, since I can't even stop myself from being bullied on playgrounds.

So, armed with only my trusty schoolbag and a magical toothbrush, I head there to find out what destiny has in store for me.

Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child is a young adult fantasy book, charting the hilarious and whimsical journey of a 16-year old city kid, as he journeys through a mystical realm and battles enemies, humans and monsters alike, with his smarts, his courage, and a backpack full of toys.

Genres: Fantasy

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2018

Reviews

[Shruthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A longer version of this review is available here at my blog Reading Recluses

The author provided us a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not in any way affect our review.

Elai Nelson is just your ordinary teenage boy, who one day all of a sudden is being hunted down by strange people in robes. After his parents are murdered, his toothbrush starts talking and he is transported to another world, Elai learns that he is (most likely) the Chosen One.

Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child is an entertaining, fast read perfect for Percy Jackson fans.

Rating: 60/100
Age: 9 & up
Warnings: N/A


For more reviews like this one, check out my blog, Reading Recluses

[David Goh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and unpretentious, Elai Nelson reads as though I'm playing a video game with Elai as my hero. Zooming from one place to another and meeting person after person that readily assist him in his quest, Fate (or rather, the High King!) is certainly on his side as he overcomes challenge after challenge in an almost episodic manner.

One thing I really appreciate was how Ban effectively distinguished the characters from one another, although many played similar roles – I could always keep track of who was who. That said, it's a shame some of these characters stepped out of Elai's life so quickly as the story moved on, and I wish I got to know them better through Elai's eyes as he meets, interacts, and often blesses them along his journey. Perhaps we'll see them again in the sequels, who knows?

Don't be fooled by the story's fantastical setting; Elai's struggles are relatable indeed for a teenage reader, filled with his casual but meaningful musings on life and growing up. There's just one exception though – while I too would like for every other girl I meet to have a severe crush on myself, it sadly doesn't seem to happen much in real life. Guess Elai's really lucky.

As for the man himself: Dotting each chapter with pop culture references that I'm glad I recognise, our hero manages to be pretty snarky even in the midst of life-threatening danger, juxtaposed against the unfailing formality of everyone else's manner of speech. Elai's quips are rather endearing, though they admittedly defuse the tension of the moment. Additionally, his ability to take a step back from his present situation and crack a relevant joke actually suggests a remarkably cool head in the heat of a battle, although the outcome of his decisions often don't turn out so great. I certainly hope to see him emerge on top of things later in the story as he grows into the man Marenden is shaping him up to be.

All in all, the book is fast-paced and easy to read, just like a fantasy RPG. I'd certainly recommend it for readers of the right age to catch the pop culture references, and it would also help if they've read some fantasy as Ban borrows extensively from a general understanding of fantasy folk. Hit the sweet spot for me, and I look forward to the sequels!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I intend to write a more extensive review for the entire trilogy, but here are my thoughts of the first book. Warning: spoilers ahead.

Overall, three stars. I'll go through what I liked, and what could be improved.

What I liked: The language was easy to follow and read, so I didn't have to spend too much time. I think it's quite refreshing to read a fantasy work that doesn't take itself too seriously. I would say my favourite character is the talking toothbrush. He reminds me of Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle. He provides good comic relief and at times sagely advice to the hero.

I did like the funny nicknames for the antagonist too. I also liked that Elai wasn't the kind of protagonist who automatically becomes a genius, and he's a total fish out of water in the other realm. Also, I liked that the "chosen one" trope wasn't thrown so quickly into the reader's face.

What could be improved: The chapter titles had both hits and misses for me, but generally were quite funny. I would have liked a map of Marenden, and maybe a relationship tree of the kingdoms. It would have helped readers be better immersed in the realm. At times, the characters' dialogue felt like a history or geography lesson, rather than dialogue.

Some expressions were a bit awkward, such as the elongated "No" during the death scene of Elai's parents. In my opinion, it affected the mood. Some expressions used may not be appropriate for younger audiences, such as the tavern scene with the waitress and some references to substances. Elai also doesn't always talk like a 16-year-old. I also have some thoughts about the writing of the female characters, which I will save for the extensive review.

Overall, a promising start to the fantasy trilogy with good pacing.

[Michael Thal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child is book one of the Fire on the Clouds Trilogy. The novel begins when Elai’s home is broken into by two goons who kill his adoptive parents and attempt to kidnap him. But with the help of his talking toothbrush (you read that right) the sixteen-year old manages to escape. The toothbrush leads Elai to a storm drain where there’s a portal to another world.

Elai knows nothing about his real parents, for the Nelsons found him a decade ago aimlessly wandering the streets, and Elai could only remember his name. With one of the goons electrocuted back in his house and the second hot on his tail, Elai is forced to enter a portal that won’t reopen for another ten years.

Thus begins Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child by Michael Ban. Once on the other side of the portal and away from Earth, Elai’s toothbrush turns into a magnificent long sword. Together boy and sword try to survive in this strange medieval world where they meet a litany of characters including elves, dwarves, a beautiful princess, and an emperor. Their adopted new world is under attack by a species known as Zul’im who destroy anything and anyone in their path. Elai is in the center of the conflict because he may be the child in the prophecy that will save this fantasy world.

Michael Ban uses teenager Elai to tell his story in the first person, however, there are a few battle scenes, far from Elai’s view, described where it would have been impossible for the boy to have seen. The characters are developed nicely, the scenery described adequately, and the story flows quickly through a well-organized plot.

However, as in most trilogies, many plot threads were left unresolved leaving an unsatisfied reader needing to purchase book two, Elai Nelson and the Storm on the Sand.

[Caitlin Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ban successfully parodies the common fantasy elements of prophesied heroes and magical artefacts while maintaining the urgency and danger of Elai’s quest to shut down a dangerous portal and discover who he truly is.

The fantasy world of Marenden is populated with the familiar triad of humans, dwarves, and elves but Bam incorporates a unique and humorous twist into these races. This is most noticeable with the dwarves. Pop culture references and cultural differences between Earth and Marenden add to the comedic aspect of Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child.

Elai is adorably awkward and his relationship with his magical toothbrush often results in hilarity. The Duke, Ofay, Caris, and other characters native to Marenden provide balance with their more solemn demeanours while still being endearing. The plot contains a satisfying blend of main and side quests and the pacing is just right. A thrilling and surprising denouement raises the stakes leading into the next book of Ban’s Fire on the Clouds Trilogy

Elai Nelson and the Prophecy of the Child is such a fun read. I had mixed feelings as the end approached since I wanted to know what happened next but didn’t want the book to end. This is the most entertaining book I’ve read in a long time and one of my new favourites.

[Ethel Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new Elai Nelson series is an exciting and fun read! The plot moves a long at a great pace and is easy to follow. The characters are endearing and adventures exhilarating! highly recommended for readers aged perhaps 10 and up. Even adults can get much enjoyment out of this! Feels just like you're watching a fun fantasy movie, akin to the Narnia series, or a less dark version of Hunger Games. Still lots of epic battles, fighting, wars etc, but without being needlessly graphic. Characterisation of Elai gains traction and gets better as the book continues, so do stick around for it! First book ends with HIGH STAKES, which is a fantastic set up for the second book. Author isn't afraid to push the boundaries on the plot, and doesn't linger within safe writing, so there will be a huge payoff! Read and enjoy!

[Erik McManus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the book was pretty good. It definitely felt like the main character needed a bit more emotional depth to them since they were going through some traumatic events and they just moved on and continued on their adventure. Its definitely written for a younger audience but with a character at 16, they should process more and convey those feelings to the reader. The adventure of it was fun and I liked the main characters sarcasm. I enjoyed the world building that took place in this first book to setup the rest of the series. You really get a sense of how big trhis new realm our character finds themself in is and the journey they will be going on.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book and written by a Singaporean. Hell yeah!

[Suat Teo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It is a page turner. I like the first person narrative, the subtle humour and poignant elements. Looking forward to the next book!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, lighthearted read about a normal boy being transported into an alternate world where his toothbrush is a talking sword, where there are dwarves and elves and an impending battle is on the way. Marenden is basically earth during the Middle Ages, along with some elements of fantasy involved. While the story was compelling, I felt as though it could've done more in terms of world building.

The full review is on my blog, Reading Recluses.

The author has provided a copy in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects the review.

[Li Neng Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chock-full of popular references and snarky comments, but it gains momentum as the book proceeds. I was doubtful at the start, but grew to like the tale as it developed. Looking forward to reading the next book!