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Elvensty
Khomar's innate ability to block all empathic attacks had cracked open the doors to the Elvensty Academy, despite his being half Auxule. But it was his secret gift, one he could barely control, that would send him into the Wylds of Dalmain with Aya, a Jyrye girl he barely knew.
With the Crossing of the two suns about to unleash the bitter winds of winter, Khomar is charged with leading Aya to safety while being pursued by rogue empaths. As questions surrounding Aya are answered, they will find their faith in God pushed to the limit as their lives are irrevocably changed.
The Swordflower Saga is an epic fantasy in the vein of the classics of the 80's and 90's. The series weaves an engaging and engrossing adventure with strong, fantastic characters, an exciting new world, and an unfolding mystery that will have you eagerly turning the next page to discover the next piece of the puzzle. Don't miss out on the high fantasy adventure you have been waiting for!
With the Crossing of the two suns about to unleash the bitter winds of winter, Khomar is charged with leading Aya to safety while being pursued by rogue empaths. As questions surrounding Aya are answered, they will find their faith in God pushed to the limit as their lives are irrevocably changed.
The Swordflower Saga is an epic fantasy in the vein of the classics of the 80's and 90's. The series weaves an engaging and engrossing adventure with strong, fantastic characters, an exciting new world, and an unfolding mystery that will have you eagerly turning the next page to discover the next piece of the puzzle. Don't miss out on the high fantasy adventure you have been waiting for!
- GenresFantasyChristian Fiction
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2018
16 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
M.B. Aznoe
5 books12 followersM. B. Aznoe is a husband and wife writing team who currently make their home in Montana. Both of them have had a deep love of books from a young age, each having developed their own fantasy worlds years before they met. The world of the Swordflower Saga is the result of their combined creativity and the culmination of 15 years of dialog and daydreaming.
M. works from home by day, programming software for a major corporation. He holds a bachelor degree in Computer Science from Montana State University. He has composed over 20 songs and plays both piano and guitar. Many of his songs can be found at morethani.org.
B. holds a one year certificate in Biblical Studies from Montana Bible College and has completed “Writing for Children and Teens” and “Book Writing for Children” from the Institute of Children’s Literature. She keeps busy homeschooling their six children (five of which are boys). She plays several instruments (including the bass, clarinet, and the Turkish Oud) and loves to cook.
M. works from home by day, programming software for a major corporation. He holds a bachelor degree in Computer Science from Montana State University. He has composed over 20 songs and plays both piano and guitar. Many of his songs can be found at morethani.org.
B. holds a one year certificate in Biblical Studies from Montana Bible College and has completed “Writing for Children and Teens” and “Book Writing for Children” from the Institute of Children’s Literature. She keeps busy homeschooling their six children (five of which are boys). She plays several instruments (including the bass, clarinet, and the Turkish Oud) and loves to cook.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 18, 2024
As a fan of the Fantasy genre in books for the past ten years of my life, I'm always looking for another great series to dive into. The Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia are some of my all time favorites. They capture valuble and influential Biblical truths that have affected me to this day. A few years ago I noticed something. There have not been many Christian authors (that I know of) in recent time who have written a Fantasy story aimed at an older, adult audience. There have been more recent Christian children's fantasy: The Wormling, Andrew Peterson's works, Staff and sword, a few more.
I met Jed back in 2022 and he told me that his parents have almost completed their own fantasy series: The Swordflower saga. Immediately I was interested and a few months later purchased the first four books. Throughout the past year I've spent time reading Elvensty, their first book, and there is definitely much to chat about.
The basic plot follows the two main characters: Khomar, a powerful and humble young man, and Aya, an intelligent and compassionate young lady. Their story begins at the school of Elvensty, with our characters sharing a passion for a familiar book and a familiar God. I can't share much of what happens after that as the story gets going pretty quickly. In short, they begin an adventure of a lifetime.
I'll break down what I really liked:
The Themes: The authors did a wonderful displaying Biblical truths within their tale: Relationship with God, honor, marriage, loyalty, humility, companionship, and endurance. The story definitely is for an older audience as some themes are not suitable for younger readers (in regards to some aspects of the marriage theme and the endurance theme at the end of the story in particular)
The Characters: I really like the characters. The main characters really reflect Christians going through life relying on God, and that was a breathe of fresh air to see in a fantasy story. I love some of the side characters introduced half way through (Palo and Dhrudmon) and really liked Kintrye. Great job! Excited to see where there story ends up.
The Worldbuilding: Very unique world. I love the hints of lore sprinkled throughout the book, and if you are a fan of characters with special abilities (this story is for you)! Also the different people were unique.
I'm being super vague, I don't want to spoil anything for you guys! I do recommend reading this one!!
There were a few things that I thought were a little tough in reading:
At certain parts there was pacing issues. I think the pacing at the beginning went a little too fast, in regards to the introduction of the conflict. In the middle of the story I thought the opposite, some parts were to slow. There was a few times I even forgot about the conflict (now I acknowledge that that is partly on me, but there was a few chapters where the conflict wasn't mentioned). But besides those few things the authors did a great job.
I encourage you, if you are into the fantasy genre you will want to check this out! It would also be supporting self-published authors.
I met Jed back in 2022 and he told me that his parents have almost completed their own fantasy series: The Swordflower saga. Immediately I was interested and a few months later purchased the first four books. Throughout the past year I've spent time reading Elvensty, their first book, and there is definitely much to chat about.
The basic plot follows the two main characters: Khomar, a powerful and humble young man, and Aya, an intelligent and compassionate young lady. Their story begins at the school of Elvensty, with our characters sharing a passion for a familiar book and a familiar God. I can't share much of what happens after that as the story gets going pretty quickly. In short, they begin an adventure of a lifetime.
I'll break down what I really liked:
The Themes: The authors did a wonderful displaying Biblical truths within their tale: Relationship with God, honor, marriage, loyalty, humility, companionship, and endurance. The story definitely is for an older audience as some themes are not suitable for younger readers (in regards to some aspects of the marriage theme and the endurance theme at the end of the story in particular)
The Characters: I really like the characters. The main characters really reflect Christians going through life relying on God, and that was a breathe of fresh air to see in a fantasy story. I love some of the side characters introduced half way through (Palo and Dhrudmon) and really liked Kintrye. Great job! Excited to see where there story ends up.
The Worldbuilding: Very unique world. I love the hints of lore sprinkled throughout the book, and if you are a fan of characters with special abilities (this story is for you)! Also the different people were unique.
I'm being super vague, I don't want to spoil anything for you guys! I do recommend reading this one!!
There were a few things that I thought were a little tough in reading:
At certain parts there was pacing issues. I think the pacing at the beginning went a little too fast, in regards to the introduction of the conflict. In the middle of the story I thought the opposite, some parts were to slow. There was a few times I even forgot about the conflict (now I acknowledge that that is partly on me, but there was a few chapters where the conflict wasn't mentioned). But besides those few things the authors did a great job.
I encourage you, if you are into the fantasy genre you will want to check this out! It would also be supporting self-published authors.
June 28, 2019
Overall, it's a good read for fans of christian fantasy *(with some stipulations - see below). Its strongest aspect was definitely worldbuilding, particularly as far as people groups, languages, and cultures were concerned. Learning about the cultures was probably my favorite part of reading Elvensty. The world itself was developed well, too, with unique seasons and multiple suns and other fun details like that. I also appreciate all of the time that I know went into careful editing. This is another indie book that could hold its own in comparison to any similar traditionally published book.
I have some critiques as well. I would say the middle dragged quite a bit. That's not necessarily a bad thing (that can be personal preference, and the slow bits didn't keep the Lord of the Rings from becoming wildly popular), but what bothered me more is that there were a lot of minor sub-plots that were introduced and then quickly resolved during that time which made it feel fragmented rather than cohesive. My advice to the writers would be to figure out what each character's arc is, and build those through the duration of the story, working up to a common climax and wrapping up everything together at the end. Lu's character arc was great - it had time to build and then reached a climax and resolution at a good point in the story. Those are just the observations of an unqualified fellow author, though, so take whatever's helpful and leave the rest. :)
*Lastly, I would only recommend it to someone who is a strong believer in traditional gender roles. The story was pretty heavy with messages about men being protectors/leaders and women being caretakers/supporters. I know that will be a pro or a con for different people, so it didn't influence my rating one way or the other. I just thought it was worth noting.
I have some critiques as well. I would say the middle dragged quite a bit. That's not necessarily a bad thing (that can be personal preference, and the slow bits didn't keep the Lord of the Rings from becoming wildly popular), but what bothered me more is that there were a lot of minor sub-plots that were introduced and then quickly resolved during that time which made it feel fragmented rather than cohesive. My advice to the writers would be to figure out what each character's arc is, and build those through the duration of the story, working up to a common climax and wrapping up everything together at the end. Lu's character arc was great - it had time to build and then reached a climax and resolution at a good point in the story. Those are just the observations of an unqualified fellow author, though, so take whatever's helpful and leave the rest. :)
*Lastly, I would only recommend it to someone who is a strong believer in traditional gender roles. The story was pretty heavy with messages about men being protectors/leaders and women being caretakers/supporters. I know that will be a pro or a con for different people, so it didn't influence my rating one way or the other. I just thought it was worth noting.
June 6, 2018
I found an enjoyable relaxing read and Christian fiction — yay! Though I missed the redemptive and Spirit-filled aspects of the faith, the reality of Christian living shows through this seductive fantasy. I’m not talking about sex but the empathetic, telepathic, and sensory connection commonly seen in sci-fi of the sixties.
I’ve always found that extremely attractive. Complete telepathy draws me on a really deep level. Elvensty provides a lesser example of this. But, it remains compelling.
The characters reveal some complexity. The evil seems real in this fantasy world of wonder. The world building seems a bit thin. This is definitely not hard sci-fi. The complex solar system receives little examination.
The spiritual ruler of the world never appears, nor his demons. Spiritual warfare never makes an appearance. We see much nastiness—beyond the norm in some ways. But, the enemies are not spiritual.
Many people have gifts of power. The gifts given remain under the control of the character though they’re given by God—more like a talent than a spiritual gift. They can also be inherited. So, they’re fleshly attributes.
However, the walk of faith rings true even though, as mentioned, the new creation and moves of the Holy Spirit do not appear. It’s simply a natural part of their lives. So, we’ve been given enjoyable entertainment with a solid religious base. In this day and age, that’s exceptional.
The personal relationships uplift. I can foresee some powerful possible developments in book two. I’m looking forward to it. It could be a wonderful series.
You’ll enjoy the read…as will your children. In the midst of the Great Apostasy, that’s a good thing. They gave me a review copy, and I’m pleased with the opportunity to review a good book.
I’ve always found that extremely attractive. Complete telepathy draws me on a really deep level. Elvensty provides a lesser example of this. But, it remains compelling.
The characters reveal some complexity. The evil seems real in this fantasy world of wonder. The world building seems a bit thin. This is definitely not hard sci-fi. The complex solar system receives little examination.
The spiritual ruler of the world never appears, nor his demons. Spiritual warfare never makes an appearance. We see much nastiness—beyond the norm in some ways. But, the enemies are not spiritual.
Many people have gifts of power. The gifts given remain under the control of the character though they’re given by God—more like a talent than a spiritual gift. They can also be inherited. So, they’re fleshly attributes.
However, the walk of faith rings true even though, as mentioned, the new creation and moves of the Holy Spirit do not appear. It’s simply a natural part of their lives. So, we’ve been given enjoyable entertainment with a solid religious base. In this day and age, that’s exceptional.
The personal relationships uplift. I can foresee some powerful possible developments in book two. I’m looking forward to it. It could be a wonderful series.
You’ll enjoy the read…as will your children. In the midst of the Great Apostasy, that’s a good thing. They gave me a review copy, and I’m pleased with the opportunity to review a good book.
October 29, 2018
As a book reviewer I read a lot of new fiction, approximately 80 books a year, and while there are a lot of interesting concepts that cross my desk I am rarely deeply impressed with the writing itself. In fact, the last time I was so impressed with a new author was Patrick Carr.
I didn't get Elvensty as a review book, I ordered it on a whim and I'm very glad that I did. The book is well developed on every side. The characters are genuine with both strengths and weaknesses. The world building is creative and well-rounded, grounded in our own world (just as the faith portrayed and its stories are grounded in our own Scriptures) with adequate history of why that is the case. The writing is alive and descriptive without getting bogged down by long narrative explanations. The places and colors and scents and emotions are brought to life in the midst of the story and this is the aspect of the book that impressed me most as it is rare to see this type of seamless writing from a newly published author. The faith aspects of the novel are beautifully rich and yet not at all preachy. The faith of the characters is living and active, lives on display which have their own impact.
I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next installment in the series and from seeing more from this husband and wife writing team.
I didn't get Elvensty as a review book, I ordered it on a whim and I'm very glad that I did. The book is well developed on every side. The characters are genuine with both strengths and weaknesses. The world building is creative and well-rounded, grounded in our own world (just as the faith portrayed and its stories are grounded in our own Scriptures) with adequate history of why that is the case. The writing is alive and descriptive without getting bogged down by long narrative explanations. The places and colors and scents and emotions are brought to life in the midst of the story and this is the aspect of the book that impressed me most as it is rare to see this type of seamless writing from a newly published author. The faith aspects of the novel are beautifully rich and yet not at all preachy. The faith of the characters is living and active, lives on display which have their own impact.
I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next installment in the series and from seeing more from this husband and wife writing team.
April 22, 2019
Elvensty is a school for empaths. Kohmar isn't an empath but he can naturally block empaths and - well, his grandfather was a hero in the wars and that helped get him into the school. The school was founded by the followers of The Way, but not many believed anymore. Kohmar thought he was the only one using the chapel, but suddenly the beautiful etchings on the wall were being cleaned and polished. He thought it might be a woman doing it, but despite that (men and women shouldn't be alone together) he was going to come back that evening and wait for her.
Kohmar and Aya meet that evening and feel an instant connection - but when they decide it is time to go back Kohmar sense someone on the other side of the door and there begins their journey! (No, I'm not going to spoil anything for you - you have to read it to find out what happens next.) There's lots of romance, lots of action, and suspense too!
This is a clean read.
Kohmar and Aya meet that evening and feel an instant connection - but when they decide it is time to go back Kohmar sense someone on the other side of the door and there begins their journey! (No, I'm not going to spoil anything for you - you have to read it to find out what happens next.) There's lots of romance, lots of action, and suspense too!
This is a clean read.
June 18, 2019
The authors take you on a wild adventure, making you feel and see along with the characters. The story is unique and refreshing, while the characters welcome you like old friends do. I highly recommend this read. It is good for anyone to read at any time. I found it helpful that their website includes an audio pronunciation guide for certain words in the book.
May 14, 2018
Excellent read
Picked this book on a whim and boy what an amazing book. Keeps you wanting more. The flow was great and sure kept me salivating for the next page. To bad the next book is not going to be out until December
Picked this book on a whim and boy what an amazing book. Keeps you wanting more. The flow was great and sure kept me salivating for the next page. To bad the next book is not going to be out until December
May 22, 2019
Wow!
This is such a good book! Cannot wait to start the next one! I love the presentation of truth woven through every part of the story.
This is such a good book! Cannot wait to start the next one! I love the presentation of truth woven through every part of the story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews