Warriors of the Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk

by E.I. Landa

Deep in the heart of Amazonas, in the Cloud Forest, a baby girl is born: Mila Tzofia Ferro, whose name means "warrior, wisdom, and iron." Many years before, in the same place, an exceptional gift was entrusted to a group of warriors called the Cloud People. While Mila's life will lead her away from Amazonas, she will inevitably be drawn back to the cloud forest and its secret. But first, Mila must confront her own.

While still a baby, Mila's father becomes trapped in the web of the Norfolks-a family of powerful pharmaceutical tycoons-and pays for his entanglement with his life. As Mila grows up, she faces more challenges, including the discovery of her unsettling abilities. Yet Mila is also blessed with a strong, loving family: her caring mother wants to show her the beauty of our world. Mother and daughter move from Peru to Italy to Switzerland to Israel-gaining knowledge in each place that will come to serve Mila later. Shortly after they return to Peru, Mila meets Eli, a young, kind American scholar with his own strange abilities.

Just as Mila and Eli begin to fall in love, the Norfolks attempt to procure an archaeological artifact found in French Polynesia. But they are not the only ones interested in the black-market artifact. As this remnant from Amazonas resurfaces, a chain reaction is set off and Mila understands she must come to terms with her roots, the reason for her unusual upbringing, and her unique abilities in order to fight alongside the people she loves.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2020

Reviews

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have one word to say about this book, YES! I am always searching for exciting, unimaginable, action-packed YA novels you can get lost in after the first ten pages. Warriors of the Secret Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk accomplished that and more. Each chapter, page, and word use made this book more astonishingly unique to the point where I felt that I was immediately teleported into the storyline and became part of the tale. The heroine, Mila Tzofia Ferro, is a spunky, type A romantic personality that perfectly fits the setting. E.I. Linda does a remarkable job using colorful vocabulary, easy-to-follow structure, and vivid detail to describe the world of Amazonas, Peru Cloud Forest. With romance brewing between Mila and Eli, her friend who’s a gifted American scholar, and an extravagant plot twist of losing Mila’s father, there is not a boring chapter of this book, and my time was 100% invested. I was so happy to see this book included in a series, and I look forward to reading more adventures.

Warriors of the Secret Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk is an Amazonian tale of contemporary stature that will leave readers in awe, begging for more. This book deserves a 5 out of 5-star rating.

[Stacia Floberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly one of the most unique novels I have ever read. It spans so many different genres the list includes, but is not limited to, the following: fiction, fantasy, romance, ya, and adventure.
The plot is very compelling and takes you on a journey to multiple countries. As an avid traveller, I still learned a lot about different cultures through Mila’s adventures. The protagonist, Mila, is a smart, beautiful character who provides the coming-of-age and lovely romantic pieces of the novel. There are several other interesting, well-developed characters as well.
Although it seems cliche to say, I found this book so intriguing I could not wait to find out what happened. I was frustrated when the ending left me hanging because the second book was not yet published; I felt like I couldn’t wait even a week to read the sequel. I am glad current readers can jump right into the sequel now.
One important piece of the plot includes some very realistic science fiction. I say this because ironically the author wrote this story before Covid shut down our world. Read this book to find out how the spread of a deadly virus relates to this novel.
I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind story!

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed going on this adventure alongside Mila and her friends and family! Her journey of self discovery, facing loss and love, and coming into her new roles as a young woman were my favorite things about this story. I loved getting to know these characters and learning their desires and struggles. I cannot wait to see where their adventure goes in the next book!
Reading this book was also a wonderful educational experience, as I feel that I got a glance at so many other places and cultures. It has left me wanting to learn more and encouraging my desire to travel the world! I hope that one day I will be able to visit Peru and experience some adventures for myself.

[Slmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A multifaceted adventure with mystical undertones

This fictitious yet ancient-tradition-packed New-Adult novel recounts a story set in the Amazon Cloud Forrest of Peru following the native Amazonian protagonist Mila Tzofia Ferro, otherwise known as “warrior, wisdom, and iron” by the indigenous Cloud People and warriors of the Amazon. It is apparent from the onset of this book that author E.I. Landa has infused the story with rich cultural knowledge in Peruvian tradition, ideology, and indigenous ways. For me this truly brought the plot in this story to life, adding a deep layer of authenticity to the narrative. As a visiting traveler to several locations revisited in the novel, I personally very much connected with the story and absolutely loved immersing myself into Mila’s intriguing multicultural worldview that has been shaped and molded from the diverse offset travels to various locations with her mother Flora. The opening pages thrusts the story into action as the prologue features a furry of characters, warriors and medicinal healers alike. Each chapter lunges readers into a new territory as we learn more of the plot by exploring Peru, Italy, Israel, England, France, The Netherlands, and back to Peru, where Mila returns again full circle to walk her destiny. Readers may enjoy visiting various sacred geographical locations in anticipation to see how Mila endures her trials and tribulations as a strong-willed and mission-driven character arises from Mila. The story centers strongly on Mila’s family relationship dynamics, where readers connect to her character growth through several interpersonal relationship bonds developed over the storyline. Personal secrets and surprises abound in the novel, as Mila’s own mother Flora hides significant truths from Mila. Uncovering more details about Mila’s gifts was one of the most fulfilling aspects of the story, as readers come to see how Mila’s life travels and growth have prepared her for handling the unraveling circumstances of her reality. I would have liked to see more emphasis placed on this mystical aspect of the story rather than more heavily focused relationship dynamics. An interesting theme that I enjoyed from this novel is the juxtaposition of nature versus technology with ancient herbal remedy and modern medicines, revisiting the starkly apparent dichotomy between natural plant and pharmaceutical medicines, touching upon intuitive healing and how the idea of healing greatly differs within varying cultural lenses. Overall, this book is an interesting read that offers bits of action, romance, adventure, and fantasy that is sure to excite a diverse set of readers. At the end of the novel, Landa includes commentary on specific chapters and reveals personal details that helped influence certain portions of the book. This was an interesting surprise that fostered more connection with the fictitious and embellished events occurring within the novel. Also provided is a short glossary that I feel could have been more useful if added unto or further improved upon.

[S. Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is the first volume in the Warriors of the Sacred Garden series, of which one additional volume has been published at the time of this review. I found it difficult gauge the novel's actual content because the writing itself was so unprofessional in appearance. There are numerous and obvious misspellings, grammatical errors, and missing words. Even in the absence of these, the prose often sounds stilted and false. The dialogue in particular is delivered in a robotic, unpunctuated manner that occasionally verges into the unintentionally comic.

The plot had the potential to be interesting, if it had not been so fatally hampered by style. The modern descendants of an ancient race of angelic beings (similar in concept to the Nephilim, although never called such) come together to oppose a sinister biotechnology company seeking out the mythical Garden of Life. As a result of their heritage, each of the descendants has some kind of superpower that they use to defend the natural world and enforce justice--all as non-violently as possible, of course.

The pacing is decent, and the book ends on an appropriate cliffhanger from which to set up a sequel. However, the plot largely consists of moving from one cliché to another. Mila, the central character, is more or less flawless. She's unfailingly brave, beautiful, multilingual, and combat-trained. After being inducted into a cadre of fellow superheroes, she immediately proves to be an expert in matters related to their current mission. After this, there is the clandestine organization of good guys who, despite their stated need for secrecy, immediately accept the main character into their ranks, along with anyone else who also turns out to be a good guy. Then we have the inexplicably devoted housekeeper, the blossoming romance between the main characters that almost everyone else sees happening and is just thrilled about, and the somewhat morally ambiguous character who redeems himself in the climatic battle. I am keeping this a bit vague in order to avoid spoilers, but I think you get the idea.

There are some merits to this book that do warrant mention. The setting, the highlands and lush rainforests of Peru, is one that could really be used more often in fiction. The author is a Peru native, and in an afterward she describes basing some parts of the book on things that happened when she was growing up there. The descriptions of the landscape and scenery are among the most natural-sounding passages in the book. I think I might have appreciated the novel more had it been written as a memoir or travelogue! Also, while I stand by my prior statements about Mila being a typical, ideal-to-the-point of boring heroine, the book does deviate from the trope in one regard. Unlike most young adult protagonists, she has a very positive relationship with her mother, great-grandmother, and other adult figures in her life. The implication that heroism can grow out of love and benevolent guidance as much as unremitting adversity is refreshing.

[Jade Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Reedsy Discovery, which you can check out here - [https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/war...].

Mila, a girl with a sharp and curious mind, spends her childhood exploring parts of the world alongside her mother. She learns new skills, conquers challenges and faces terrible loss, all of which ultimately create the strong, intelligent young woman she grows to be. But in her heart, one question remains; what are her roots and where do they lie? Her story is trapped by secrets she must uncover in order to learn who she really is and what she is capable of.

In the first couple of chapters we get to see Mila at various points during her childhood, in which elements of her future characteristics are sprinkled in, as well as some subtle foreshadowing. Mila is a curious child with a thirst for knowledge. She asks many questions of the world around her, even theorising on the answers herself, always learning. Occasionally, I found her language doesn't reflect that of a six-year-old, even for an extraordinary child such as Mila.

Landa presents the reader with a colourful, atmospheric, sensory delight. Her rich and powerful imagery creates a beautiful environment to escape to, in addition to further enhancing the detailed world building that has been clearly and carefully considered. The author integrates real moments in history, including personal experiences, into this fictionalised world. This heightens the culture and tradition the reader is exposed to within the prologue and continued in the story as it progresses. It also serves to enrich the characters backstories.

Tangled throughout the text lies this question of roots. Identity and family trees are mirrored by the fascination and importance of plants and their own roots. The themes of nature are juxtaposed with the rise of technology and its advancements, yet both share an element of growth and discovery. This weaves all the characters together; and oh, we are truly spoiled with the diverse mix of characters we have been given! A select few of these characters are gifted with a unique ability which lends itself to further the plot with secret societies and dangerous missions.

The path to finding yourself is something everybody will experience at some point in life, allowing readers to see and discover a part of themselves in Mila's story. I feel like the book would benefit from a further edit to fix the small, yet infrequent mistakes, and to tighten up the story. Nevertheless, this is an exciting tale with a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy: action, love, mystery; and carries an important message, as any good book should. The world always needs more superheroes, in any and all shapes and forms.

[Diamond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden by E.I. Landa had the potential to be a remarkable story about self-discovery, family, sacrifice, and love. We follow the story of a young girl named Mila, who witnesses and is fully aware of her own birth. The story focuses, initially, on her parents, and then on her mother Flora, as she navigates life, traveling, and raising her child. We watch Mila grow up, and we see her boisterousness, strong nature, and her hunger for information and knowledge. After a life-altering event, Mila strikes into the world as an adult, where she learns harrowing secrets and truths. Mila's entire plan for her life is thrown into chaos as she joins the fight to protect an irreplaceable part of her heritage.



The story, sadly, does not seem to have been professionally edited. There are spelling, grammar, and storyline errors throughout the book that makes it very difficult to read. While reading, I noticed that even halfway through the book, the characters are two-dimensional and do not have unique voices. Mila often sounds like Flora or someone who is much older than she is. 45% of the way through the story, I began wishing for the other foot to drop in terms of a very predictable situation between Mila and another character. This was not a feeling of endearment or excitement, but of dragging and wanting to get it over with.



A key theme in the story, the superhuman or gifted, is also poorly done. There were great opportunities for the author to expand on the gifts, fully explain them, and make those gifts come alive. Instead, the discussions or mentions of them fall flat. You cannot be sure if gifts are normal, abnormal, frowned upon, or celebrated until perhaps well over halfway through the text. There is simply too much depth missing from the plot and the characters to create a well-rounded piece of literature.



I would give this book a 2 out of 5 stars. I would not recommend this book, but the genre is aligned with science fiction and superpower stories. The book could be read by young adults, as the themes and language are not obscene or overtly vulgar. It is very slow-paced in moments where it should be faster, and faster in moments where it should be slower. There are quite a few instances when there is a lack of detail or attention where we as readers could have connected better with different characters as well. Overall, the author missed the mark here.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mila Ferro was born in the Cloud Forest that once was home to the Cloud people. Now years later, they have all disappeared.
Mila and her mother travel the world and end up back in Peru, which was once their home. Here, Mila meets the young American scholar Eli, and together they become entangled in secrets long past. Finally, Mila will understand her heritage and her upbringing.

The book itself is a well-crafted story that spins a journey of pain, loss, love, and adventure. The author's place setups and scene descriptions are artfully done as they invoke a flurry of pictures, and the story unfolds gracefully as a result. The writing is magical at points, and it pulls the reader into the story.

There were a couple of spelling mistakes in the book. However, there were not so many errors as to affect the overall enjoyment of the story. I did think the prologue might be somewhat confusing to some. It is a sudden beginning to the novel with lots of details crammed into the opening pages. I did have to reread parts to have it straight in my mind. Having said this, the rest of the book reads very well.

The pacing in the story was good, but it was a bit slow in some places. The book focuses more on the characters and their lives rather than the mysterious aspects of the story. For example, the hinted roots of our protagonist and her parents. I thought it would have been interesting to have this more heavily present in the book.
On the other hand, the book is brimming with beautiful moments of love, family, and a deeper sense of purpose. These moments tug on your emotions and invest you in the characters.

The adventure aspect of the book starts around the sixty percent mark. So if you're expecting a lot of adventure from this book, you might be a little disappointed. Also, the fantasy emphasis isn't as obvious throughout, rather more of a gradual introduction as Mila herself uncovers secrets. Having said this, Warriors of the Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk is emotional, creative, descriptive, and profound.

[Misty Travieso · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book alone is what grabbed my attention. I had very high hopes for it since it got a lot of pretty decent reviews. I love young adult novels and it looks as if this one is another to add to my list to read again. I’ll start by telling why I only gave it 4 stars. I felt that the book could have gone further and that is why I chose 4 instead of 5. Not to worry, it was still really good in my eyes.

So let’s focus on the book. This book is pretty unique when it comes to something that many of us young adult lovers haven’t read. The pages flew by and I was captivated by the writing. The main character is Mila Tzofia Ferro and she is very romantic, but also has quite a spunky side to her. She has an American friend named, Eli who is very gifted and brilliant. The two of them go on plenty of adventures and they begin at the start of the book, which was fantastic. I love that the author just jumped right in with no hesitation!

Most of the characters in this book belong to a tribe called Sachapuyo. They are brilliant healers and this becomes a huge part of the book. The development of the characters and the tribe was wonderfully done and we got to learn more about their secret lab called the Sacred Garden. Mila was actually born into this family of healers and her parents had some amazing abilities. Her family is looked upon highly by the tribe and it is clear throughout the entire book that they all have very high hopes for Mila.

We finally learn that Mila can work wonders with plants and she has become world renowned for her abilities. These abilities will help her on her adventures and in life. In the book, we will also learn about the Cloud Warriors and how they will all interact.

There is so much to cover in this book and I would hate to give it all away. I think that you should pick it up if you enjoy young adult literature. You will mroe than likely enjoy it in the way that I did. Happy Reading!

[Feliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a thriller. From the cover alone it invites readers into an electrifying adventure. If jungle escapades are anything to go by, then reading the book feels like watching a fantasy movie. Landa has perfectly picked her characters from Mila, the heroine to Eli, the scholar, and Flora the mom. Landa was spot on in how she introduces the story through the sceneries. She takes readers in different geographical locations depicting diverse cultures and traditions and how they shape Mila’s character. The book is centered on Mila’s family and how she emerges as a resolute character despite the numerous trials she encounters. I expected the author to focus on how Mila’s supernatural powers turned out in the story as opposed to the relationship angle. Being the heroine in the story, I admired her resilience to discover her purpose. Eli and Mila’s entanglement offers a glimpse of romance that makes the read a bit interesting. Seeing how Mila struggles to discover her purpose, the thought of finding love comes as a relief. I wish the author delved a bit further into her romantic escapades given the forces she has to contend with. If only one can spare time and immerse themselves into the story, they are in for a rollercoaster. Landa has a unique way with words making it look easy for readers. She uses descriptive language describing the Amazonian Forests and life in Peru. Beautiful landscape and scenery bring to life the adventures in the story. One feels like they are reading a travelogue for a moment. The author did a fantastic work on the characters who blended into their roles perfectly. One cannot help but admire the protagonist who draws her inspiration from close family and friends.

[James W · Rating 5 out of 5]

E. I. Landa’s ‘Warriors of the Sacred Garden—Mila: Iron and Silk’ is a thought-provoking tale of self-reliance and discovery that offers readers a suspenseful action-packed ride.

The story centers on Mila, an Amazonas-born who’s globe-trotting childhood eventually leads her back to the jungles of Peru, where she meets a young American named Eli. Unfortunately, Mila and Elis’ romance is short-lived, as a powerful company’s pursuit of an invaluable relic brings Mila face-to-face with her past, forcing her to take control of her long-dormant ‘gift’ once and for all.

‘Warriors of the Sacred Garden’ has all the makings of an epic, but the novel never threatens to overstay its welcome as Landa wisely chooses to present this story as the first installment to a two-part series. Fueled by vivid worldbuilding, realistic dialogue, and a well-paced plot, ‘Warriors of the Sacred Garden’ is, above all else, a fun, deceptively-easy read that manages to distill an open-ended mythos and a classic ‘hero vs. the evil-empire’ premise into a tight, suspense-laden page-turner.

And while Landa occasionally falls into the irksome trap of overly-descriptive prose and a laborious overabundance of dialogue tags, the Midwest-based author more than makes up for these minor gripes with a satisfyingly surprising third act that more than sets the stage for a presumed follow-up.

Part allegorical tale, part Indiana-Jones-esque adventure, E. I. Landa’s ‘Warriors of the Sacred Garden—Mila: Iron and Silk’ is a tremendously well-crafted debut that both captivates and inspires.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with Warriors of the Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk by E. I. Landa.

The opening chapter was completely bewildering. Was this book taking place in the real world or was this story a myth? On top of that, there were way too many characters thrown at the reader. After the first chapter, the book transitioned to Peru in 1985 and focused on fewer characters.

Overall, Warriors of the Sacred Garden has an interesting plot, but I found the writing to be cliched. For example, Kei says, “Well, our childhood was strange, magical, and even enviable. What can we say?” Another example that seemed corny: “Mila loved her mother’s driving, not too fast or too slow, perfect to capture beautiful images in her memory.” I often found that I did not believe what the characters were saying. The book also felt jumpy. At one point, the characters are driving in a car when the mother says, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” and they all decide to head out on a major backpacking trip. This just did not seem realistic. The plot takes some exciting twists and turns, but I struggled to enjoy the plot because of the recurring cliches.

There are some likable characters in Warriors. My favorite part of the book was learning about Eli’s childhood and hearing the story of him being forced to sleep outside as a child.

[Willow Moon Greymoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written book with enthralling characters!

Warriors of the Sacred Garden—Mila: Iron and Silk by E. I. Landa's is a beautifully written novel with particular attention to the esthetics of the cities, landscapes, and the characters' personal expressions. Much of the book is centered around Mila's development and life, a young woman born of Amazona origins. She spent much of her childhood roaming the globe, becoming a character of great depth and unquestionable tenacity.

Mila's travels led her to a bizarre adventure in Peru's lush forests, where she met a dashing young man named Eli. The two make a couple that the reader could hope to see a long-term commitment within their connection. Subsequently, this book doesn't allow for the traditional 'happy romantic movie' ending. Instead, a dose of realism, as these two are not in each other's lives for the long haul.

Mila's character does exude a quality example of femininity and the strength it takes to become an independent woman. This novel is well-written and does teach a valuable lesson, that one must rely solely upon themselves and continuously work to better oneself.

[Tuba Sarosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Landa offers a vivid description of the scene-setting from the very beginning of the story. This not only helps the reader to envisage the story well but also understand it better.
It is clear that author E.I. Landa has imbued the story with a wealth of cultural understanding in Peruvian history, philosophy, and native ways. This brought the plot of this novel to life for me, bringing a rich dimension of reality to the plot. The introduction depicts a menagerie of personalities, warriors, and medicinal healers, and propels the plot into action. Each chapter takes readers on a journey through Peru, Italy, Israel, England, France, The Netherlands, and back to Peru, where Mila goes full circle to fulfill her purpose.
The suspense and tempo were satisfactory. It wasn't easy to follow through, and it took some time to get into the novel. There was a lot of purple prose and a lot of conversation elements that may have been combined with action rhythms and/or mental or emotional states. Overall, the concept was wonderful, and the lesson is heartfelt, but it didn't pique my interest enough to read the entire series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk by E. I. Landa tells the story of a young woman named Mila Tzofia Ferro. Mila spends most of her childhood living abroad but her travels eventually lead her and her mother to Mila's birthplace of Peru. There, she becomes aware of a special ability she possesses and slowly begins to come to terms with it. Over time, Mila falls in love with Eli, a young bright American scholar who has a secret ability of his own. But the young couple's romance is short-lived when a powerful company's pursuit of an archeological relic forces Mila to face her roots and take control of her unique ability in order to help her loved ones. Mila is a strong character and it's great to watch her character development over the course of the novel as she strives to continuously improve herself. Landa's worldbuilding, although very vivid at times, is often punctuated by a lot of info-dumping and purple prose. I found it difficult to really get into the novel because of this but it's an entertaining read nevertheless and a great mix of fantasy and action.

[Mrs Rj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this novel, especially as it is very different to anything I have read before. I always appreciate novels that take you on a journey and this one certainly does as we follow Mila, a young woman with a very special gift, as she discovers who she is and where she has come from.

Set mainly in Peru, the author takes you there with the wonderful descriptions of both place and culture. The Cloud Forest inhabited by the Cloud People was full of mystical wonder. the story itself has something for everyone as it is a page turning mystery, a romance, a tale of family and sacrifice, magic and supernatural powers, time shifts and a story with two strong female lead characters - perfect!

I disagree completely with a reviewer who suggests that there is no character depth as for me, that was one of the books strengths. It doesn't gallop through the story at a hundred miles an hour but rather lets you soak up the details on the way through. I will definitely be looking out for Part 2!

[Lily A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk is a beautifully written story about a young woman by the name of Mila. Having lost her father at a young to an orchestrated accident, her mother travels to Italy from the Amazonas in Peru, to start a new life and forget the painful memories of losing her husband. Mila spends most of her childhood years in different countries but later travels back to Peru with her mother. She comes to terms with her background and unique abilities bestowed upon her and even falls in love. This is a spectacular read about this strong empowered woman, a story of identity and incomparable loyalty.
E.I Landa certainly has a way with words. She immediately builds a plausible world peppered with subtle fantasy elements through vivid descriptions from the beginning. The book cover is aesthetic, catchy, and captivating. The author seemingly had studied different cultures and histories before writing this book making the plot appear authentic. This book is packed with adventure and will tug at the heartstrings of lovers of fantasy fiction!

[Caroline Musyoka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warriors of The Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk by Landa, E.I is full of suspense and thrill. I can say that this is a must read. The story revolves around some characters who belong to a tribe called Sachapuyo that had extraordinary healers who had a great mastery of different plants and their healing capabilities. They had a laboratory in the forest where they did their research and kept results of the same. The laboratory was called the Sacred Garden. It happened that a girl named Mila was born into a family of healers. Her great grandmother called Tzofia was a renowned healer in Sachapuyo. Her parents David and Flora also had some special abilities. It happened that Mila also became skillful with plants as she was taught by Tzofia. Later on, a great pharmaceutical company run by Masae and Shinji wanted to acquire this knowledge of plants from this community for their own selfish ambitions. The Cloud Warriors as well as the Cherut, which was a group of people with special abilities, decided to protect it at all costs. This was a good read!

[Sarah Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden: Mila: Iron and Silk by E. I Landa, follows Mila and her friends and family as she discovers her true purpose. Mila loses her father at an early age and she and her mother travel constantly. Eventually, they settle back in Peru where Mila discovers a unique ability and reconnects with an ‘adopted father’ of sorts, Kei. Her mother hires a tutor, Eli, who plays an integral part in the story. Mila learns about her heritage and the importance of her homeland, The Cloud Forest.
Overall I found the story to be unique and creative. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and the storyline. Mila and her mother had such a beautiful relationship, more friends at times than mother and daughter. I also enjoyed the innocent romance between Eli and Mila. The main characters were charming.
There are numerous grammatical errors and words left out. Though I was still able to enjoy the story, these errors were fairly frequent and distracted me from what was happening. It just appeared sloppy because of the number of errors.

[T. Vand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden centers on Amazonas-born Mila. She meets a young American named Eli. Their romance is short-lived as a powerful company’s pursuit of an invaluable relic brings Mila face-to-face with her past, forcing her to take control of her long-dormant ‘gift’. For me the book was difficult to really get submerged into. The worldbuilding was good but was presented as a info-dump more than occurring organically. The the voice was quite unique, but there was no real character depth. Also, there is a lot of head hopping throughout. The suspense and pacing were okay. It wasn't an easy read though, and it take awhile to actually settle into the novel. Lots of purple prose and excessive dialogue tags that could have been mixed up with action beats and/or emotional or mental states. Overall, the premise was great and the message is poignant, but it didn't grab me enough to continue with the series.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden takes readers on a journey through different places and a world unlike ours. From the lush greenery in the Amazon readers are transported to a place full of natural beauty and beings with unnatural powers. I thought the concept for "Warriors" was pretty unique and how the time shifts as well as character point-of-views throughout the narrative. I liked how the story mixes the real world with subtle fantasy elements that blend into the overall story.

For me, I struggled reading this book a lot because it was hard to follow. At times the worldbuilding felt a bit muddled and it made it difficult to follow certain parts of the story. Certain aspects of the story were not explained while others were very detailed. A couple of parts where the time-shifted made me a bit confused as well. But I think this novel has a cool concept that I haven't seen in a lot of adventure novels that I read before and that part of the novel I really enjoyed.

[Emma Stracke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warriors of the Sacred Garden is an interesting story that weaves in multiple timelines, cultures and characters. The story mainly follows the heroine, Mila Ferro, but her path connects with the other characters throughout the book in surprising ways. I loved Mila as a main character and she was definitely a strong female lead - at times though the dialogue between characters felt a little forced which made it hard to really get into the relationships between the characters.

The book takes place in a very detailed and compelling world. There's fantasy and adventure mixed in with a lot of very interesting cultural information that made the book feel more authentic. However, the worldbuilding was so detailed that sometimes it was little confusing, especially at the beginning of the book which made it hard to get into the story initially. The book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger which had me wishing for the sequel already.

[Octavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warrior of the Sacred Garden - Mila: Iron and Silk can only be described in one word...refreshing. Well, there are more descriptive words, but refreshing is the only one that I can think of at the moment. More or less because everything Landa does in this book is something that I don't usually see too often in other books. If I'm being honest, seeing many books written the way this one was written is a rarity to me. The book had a nice pace to it and it left me wanting more. I also like the fact that three characters in this book was inspired by the Landa's loved ones. I can't wait to read more books from her. She did a fantastic job with creating a story that leaves you wanting more. Hopefully, there a sequel in the near future. If I have to rate this book, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5 rating.

[Hannah Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling and wholly energizing. This book felt very reminiscent of Octavia Spencer, or more specifically a social justice lens of sci-fi and fantasy mashup as seen in Octavia's Brood. The author, E. I Landa, clearly has a talent at building worlds and a passion for the fight--bringing it all into this book, invigorating readers with curiosity and inspiration. Well plotted and researched, the authenticity of this writing leads to a descriptive, vibrant read that makes me excited for more.

Additionally, having references and a glossary at the back of the book was incredibly helpful for feeling like I could more fully submerse myself into the world Landa had so carefully created for us.

A wondrously adventurous read that I would recommend to young readers and adults alike.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is well-written with a lovely setting and world-building and in-depth characters, I just couldn't get into it. I would consider this a "heavy" read. This isn't a bad thing, just not my preference.

The beginning of the novel is pretty slow. It took me a while to get into the story. The prologue itself is long. There was a lot of information within the prologue that you need to know but the length of it can be intimidating to those who skip over prologues.

The characters were well done. I was cheering for Mila and Eli but I couldn't connect with them. I'm not entirely what it was, but I just wasn't into it.

Overall, this is a well-written book with a cool backstory and interesting characters but I think it's an acquired taste.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathtaking story of the mysterious cloud forest

A little difficult to get into with a complex prologue and often quite a lot of detail diverting from the story and overwhelming the reader, but overall a truly magical story of self-discovery.

Some gripping events throughout with terrorism and trafficking playing key roles make this fall into the mystery thriller genre at times. The mix of suspense and adventure make this a highly immersive reading experience.

Characters were beautifully created, with Flora’s emotional journey and her pregnancy, David’s strong temper combined with his powers and Tzofia’s herbal healing skills. The Sachapuyo culture is wonderfully mysterious and full of ancient history. It has definitely piqued my curiosity to explore the cloud forest further.

[Donna Costello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but I felt it could have done with an extra edit or draft. I found it hard to get into at first because of the intense world building factor of the novel. At times I felt the author was telling us more than actually showing us parts of the story and in a way that took away the connection between the reader and the characters.

However, the author writes her main character perfectly. She is strong woman, and I loved the way she grew and developed. There was an aspect of realism that I found refreshing when it came to the romantic parts of the book. They really felt true to heart and I enjoyed seeing a different perspective.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love a good romance, I'm glad romance wasn't the core story of this adventurous young adult novel. Mila Tzofia Ferro travels the world with her mother before settling in Peru, where most of the story is told. For a short time, she falls in love with a man before embarking on an adventure that explores her ancestry and the Cloud people.

I love that E. I. Landa was inspired by her own life. Her experience living in Peru, including when she was a hostage rescued by a Peruvian antiterrorist unit, played a large role in the worldbuilding of this novel. The illustrator of the cover truly captured the spirit of the book.

[Martin L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling, but takes time getting used to

The story started with beautiful descriptions that drew me in, but at certain times I felt like the story was told, rather than lived, with too much information all at once, without actual meaning.

I did enjoy the conversations, although I found it hard to connect to the people. And even though I rooted for the romance to blossom, it didn't make much difference, if I'm honest, because I didn't get too attached to the characters.

I did enjoy reading the story, but not as much I was hoping to, and it's definitely not for everyone.

[Mark Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

E.I. Landa shows she can combine betrayal, romance, growing pains, and good old-fashioned inspiration to create her latest novel. The character starts out rather dry and uneventful and with little to no catalyst for an outer journey. But, as the story progresses, the building blocks come together, and Landa’s main character shows that she can weather any storm. Most readers will find this book a little tedious and boring to read. But, with a little more polish and beta edits, this could turn into a wonderful story.