Mouse

The Elmnas Chronicles #1

by Kaylena Radcliff

Mouse wakes not knowing who or where she is. Only the searing pain of the number 146 being burned on her arm with a white hot branding iron. A slave in Misty Summit's Manufacturing Facility, she is alone until the discovery of a terrible truth launches her on a mission to Elmnas. When a gregarious farm boy and an ancient warrior join her, the ruling powers and a relentless bounty huntress attempt to track her down.

Will they reach the fabled country or die trying?

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2019

About the author

Kaylena Radcliff is the author of several books and a number of short stories, articles, and poems. Aside from writing, she serves as a magazine editor, church planter's wife, and a homeschooling mom of two. She drinks a lot of coffee.
When not working, Kaylena likes to explore the great outdoors, play and sing with the worship team, and enjoy good conversation with friends. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @kaylenaradcliff.

Reviews

[Lorelei Angelino · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don't know who you are, Mouse, but I think you can bring a flicker of hope, of truth, to a hopeless people.”

3.5 stars

What I liked: Great worldbuilding and setting! The story is action-packed and not boring. Good imagery. Really unique and intriguing. I liked the characters. And I need the next book now, please!!

What I didn’t like: Not really a fan of the cover... Some of the characters weren't very realistic. Would have liked a map and/or some less confusing descriptions--I had to read some things twice.

CW: violence, blood, murder, weapons, mention of a naked body (nothing graphic), smoking, suicide, people treated poorly, creepy wolves, lust, assault, doom and despair

Overall, I'd recommend it to 14/16+ (depending on the person).

[Victoria Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read so often young adult/or better say - middle grade fantasy novels, but this one had me from the start. Strong characters, rich world building, twisting adventures, and plus, well written. I love Mouse and Toma!
It was an enjoyable read/book, and I look forward for the next 'Elmnas Chronicles'!

[Leslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mouse had me engrossed from beginning to end. There are well-placed cliffhangers throughout that kept me turning the page to each new chapter.

I enjoyed the blend of fantasy elements (cobblestone streets, rundown taverns, swords and daggers, isolated farmstead, monstrous mistwolves) with post-apocalyptic sci-fi elements (hovercraft, energy pistols, dystopian labor camp where memory-wiped prisoners toil over machinery).

There's even a hint of magic and mythology, especially as Mouse learns more about her homeland and the fate of the legendary Guardians there.

The story is crafted in a way that all of this works together. This is helped by the vibrant characters: some endearing, some dastardly, and one whom I'm convinced is somewhere inbetween (at least at this point in the story).

I love the characters of Red, Blade, and Toma, who each in their own way provide rays of light and hope within the grim world that Mouse must navigate. There is a nice mix of older, more experienced characters alongside the younger two (Mouse and Toma).

The bounty hunter Fox, who enters late in this book, is positively intriguing. I like how we get several scenes from her point of view. I'm delighted that the next book is called "Fox" because I'm eager to see how her part of the story plays out.

This was a really great read and I'm glad there are more books in the series to dive into!

[Sarah Bartholomew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done Kaylena Radcliff! This was an exceptional piece of literature! Unlike typical YA fiction, the language is thought provoking and the word choice is descriptive and rich. Characters and setting are all well-defined, which engages the reader from the very start. Additionally, all the elements of fantasy are on point - a dystopian society, an unlikely heroine, an epic journey featuring a guardian wielding glowing swords! And yet, the story is so unique; I loved it!

[Rachel Schmoyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic adventure that drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading.

I usually don’t care for books that take place in a another world because usually about a quarter of the way in the author has a character give a long monologue explaining the world and using a bunch of made up words and back stories that make me feel like I am learning by rote to cram for pop quiz.

But Radcliff doesn’t do that. She introduces the world through action and adventure, pieces at a time the same way Rowling and CS Lewis do so masterfully.

Mouse, Red, Toma, and Blade are all characters who were likable and I was routing for them.

Also Radcliff’s vocabulary is intelligent and she uses her words to describe just enough well-chosen detail that easily paints a picture in my head.

I look forward to reading more from her. This was much better written than many books I’ve read from big publishing houses.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes dystopian fiction feels like the same storyline on repeat, but Mouse brought some new twists and turns that I have never read before. The plot kept me guessing what would happen next, and I loved how original it was. Radcliff was a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed her writing style. Mouse was a likeable main character from, and I was rooting for her from the start. The side characters were also well done. One thing that I especially liked about Mouse was that she wasn’t as stereotypically strong as some dystopian main characters. She was a lot softer. The reason that I gave this book four stars instead of five was because there were times that I was not entirely immersed in the book, and there were times that I didn’t completely connect with Mouse as a main character.

Overall, this was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction and is looking for something out of the ordinary in that genre. This author managed to do that! I look forward to her next book being released.

[Tim Radcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Mouse. I was so impressed how this story felt fresh and blended elements of my favorite fantasy genre and science fiction which I rarely read. Moments of intense action, genuine personal interaction, and rich world building come together to create an enjoyable read from start to finish.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, characters, and tension. A very quick read too. Definitely looking forward to book #2.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world building and the twists in the adventures were what drew me deeper into the story, that and the strong characters and the fantasy. The book was a nice read.

[Charles Crompton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaylena paints a world reminiscent of your favorite fantasy stories, Middle Earth, Narnia, Panem, etc. The characters are rich and mysterious. I cannot wait to see where Mouse takes us in the sequels.

[Briel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

This fantasy/distopian society book was quite a page-turner! Well-developed characters had me cheering for the heroes and heroines. I cannot wait for the next in the series!!