What do you think?
Rate this book
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?
Will they reach the fabled country or die trying?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2019
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Kaylena Radcliff
13 books33 followersKaylena 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 13, 2023
“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).
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).
June 17, 2019
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'!
It was an enjoyable read/book, and I look forward for the next 'Elmnas Chronicles'!
February 8, 2024
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!
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!
May 22, 2019
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!
May 17, 2025
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.
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.
October 31, 2021
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.
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.
May 16, 2023
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.
June 2, 2019
Great story, characters, and tension. A very quick read too. Definitely looking forward to book #2.
May 18, 2021
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.
February 10, 2024
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.
April 8, 2023
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!!
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!!
July 21, 2023
Mouse is the first in a three-part trilogy of adventures by author Kaylena Radcliff categorized as young adult epic fantasy on Amazon. The author describes it as dystopian, but other than the opening chapters doesn't strongly follow the usual dark and heavy mood of dystopian. It more closely resembles fantasy adventure quest with a genre bending twist of science fiction's futuristic technology.
This story is set in a world with various countries, fantasy languages, and societies, however there is an element of supernatural as well. Demon-like wolf creatures appear early in the book, along with sightings of the mythological Phoenix bird, and glowing swords. Energy pistols and hovercrafts used by some characters make this book a true mixture of fantasy and science fiction.
Mouse is the name a young girl gave herself after waking with no memory of who she is or where she comes from and is placed in a work camp alongside adults speaking various languages she doesn't understand. The story soon jumps ahead to Mouse as a young teen escaping the camp and beginning her journey. Mouse's goal is merely to survive until she meets Toma, a teen boy who helps her realize a device she acquired from her friend just before escaping the camp could hold key information that would bring hope to the country of Elmnas. Toma chooses to travel alongside Mouse on her quest after they have a near miss with government officials who are searching for the missing escapee.
Not long after, Mouse and Toma receive help from a mysterious man named Blade, who appears with two glowing swords and saves them from being caught by coalition guards at a busy border crossing. Blade leads the young pair into an underground encampment where they recover from their perilous journey with a community calling themselves the Jackal Syndicate. Here, the author introduces several interesting characters. I really liked the twins Mouse met while in the underground tunnels, and enjoyed how Mouse used her mechanic skills to fix a hovercraft. It would have been nice to see more of Maren and Raim later in the first book, and hopefully they play a part in following books as Mouse continues her quest.
After leaving the underground encampment, the trio of main characters continue their journey toward the country of Elmnas. At this point we are about 3/4 of the way through the first book when the author introduces Fox, an independant bounty hunter hired by the government to track down Mouse and bring her in alive. I would have loved to see Fox introduced much earlier in the story so I could get a better sense of this antagonist, and the danger Mouse faced as she traveled toward Elmnas. Before Fox is introduced, it isn't clear who or what the antagonistic force is in this story. There are several run ins with antagonistic characters, and the government is searching for Mouse, but I had a difficult time identifying what or who Mouse's opposition was.
Mouse, the first book of the Chronicles of Elmnas is written beautifully, edited excellently, and the cover art is fantastic. The content is completely clean. No obscenities, and the story barely hints at a teen crush. The author uses sophisticated vocabulary for a young adult novel, which is surprisingly refreshing but which may leave some young readers setting the book aside. The story begins with an interesting concept and Mouse starting out in a frightening situation, however some of the descriptive world building and inner thoughts of the main character become lengthy at times and slow the pace throughout the book. It wasn't until the bounty hunter, Fox, is on Mouse's tail that the action and dialog pick up and lead us to the edge of Elmnas.
Kaylena Radcliff has written a great adventure story. I look forward to reading future work by this author. Four stars!
This story is set in a world with various countries, fantasy languages, and societies, however there is an element of supernatural as well. Demon-like wolf creatures appear early in the book, along with sightings of the mythological Phoenix bird, and glowing swords. Energy pistols and hovercrafts used by some characters make this book a true mixture of fantasy and science fiction.
Mouse is the name a young girl gave herself after waking with no memory of who she is or where she comes from and is placed in a work camp alongside adults speaking various languages she doesn't understand. The story soon jumps ahead to Mouse as a young teen escaping the camp and beginning her journey. Mouse's goal is merely to survive until she meets Toma, a teen boy who helps her realize a device she acquired from her friend just before escaping the camp could hold key information that would bring hope to the country of Elmnas. Toma chooses to travel alongside Mouse on her quest after they have a near miss with government officials who are searching for the missing escapee.
Not long after, Mouse and Toma receive help from a mysterious man named Blade, who appears with two glowing swords and saves them from being caught by coalition guards at a busy border crossing. Blade leads the young pair into an underground encampment where they recover from their perilous journey with a community calling themselves the Jackal Syndicate. Here, the author introduces several interesting characters. I really liked the twins Mouse met while in the underground tunnels, and enjoyed how Mouse used her mechanic skills to fix a hovercraft. It would have been nice to see more of Maren and Raim later in the first book, and hopefully they play a part in following books as Mouse continues her quest.
After leaving the underground encampment, the trio of main characters continue their journey toward the country of Elmnas. At this point we are about 3/4 of the way through the first book when the author introduces Fox, an independant bounty hunter hired by the government to track down Mouse and bring her in alive. I would have loved to see Fox introduced much earlier in the story so I could get a better sense of this antagonist, and the danger Mouse faced as she traveled toward Elmnas. Before Fox is introduced, it isn't clear who or what the antagonistic force is in this story. There are several run ins with antagonistic characters, and the government is searching for Mouse, but I had a difficult time identifying what or who Mouse's opposition was.
Mouse, the first book of the Chronicles of Elmnas is written beautifully, edited excellently, and the cover art is fantastic. The content is completely clean. No obscenities, and the story barely hints at a teen crush. The author uses sophisticated vocabulary for a young adult novel, which is surprisingly refreshing but which may leave some young readers setting the book aside. The story begins with an interesting concept and Mouse starting out in a frightening situation, however some of the descriptive world building and inner thoughts of the main character become lengthy at times and slow the pace throughout the book. It wasn't until the bounty hunter, Fox, is on Mouse's tail that the action and dialog pick up and lead us to the edge of Elmnas.
Kaylena Radcliff has written a great adventure story. I look forward to reading future work by this author. Four stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews